This course provides a foundational study of the laws of thought. Students will move beyond mere “feelings” or “opinions” to master the art of objective reasoning. By studying the structure of arguments, students learn to identify valid reasoning, detect fallacies, and construct sound proofs.

Students will learn the following:

• The Theory of Terminology: Understanding how we define terms to avoid ambiguity and vagueness.
• Statements and Their Relationships: Analyzing the architecture of sentences and how they relate to one another using the Square of Opposition.
• Syllogisms: Mastering the classic form of deductive reasoning. Students will learn to determine the validity of arguments based on their mood and figure.
• Informal Fallacies: Identifying common errors in reasoning found in everyday advertisements, political speeches, and debates.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Distinguish between truth (the content of a statement) and validity (the structure of an argument).
2. Translate complex English sentences into logical symbols for analysis.
3. Apply the rules of the syllogism to evaluate the consistency of various claims.
4. Engage in rigorous discussion and debate with clarity and charity.

Required Materials

Introductory Logic (Student Text/Workbook) by James B. Nance and Douglas Wilson

Tuition: $300 per semester