3.00 Credits
Argumentation and debate is an important part of our lives. We might present an argument for a raise to a boss or argue in the papers we write. We debate in the classroom, the courthouse, or the halls of congress. While sometimes the goal of arguing is winning, arguing is best when it helps us get closer to the truth. But arguing well is not easy and many people do not realize that there is a logic to it. This course is a study of elementary methods of that logic. Through the examination of logical concepts and the logical structure of sentences, this course will teach us how to make inferences and reach conclusions in a way that avoids mistakes. This course will also investigate common logical fallacies, so we can avoid making them and defend ourselves against such fallacies. This course will focus on both formal and informal methods of logic and teach us that reasoning itself has a structure.