PHIL 3034 - Logic, Truth and Reason: The Ways of Paradox
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2019
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PHIL 3034 Course Logic, Truth and Reason: The Ways of Paradox Coordinating Unit Philosophy Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study Incompatible PHIL 2049 Assumed Knowledge PHIL 1110 or equivalent (MATHS 1013, COMP SCI 1101) Assessment Short Essay 30%, Research Essay 55%, Online Discussion prompt responses 15% Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Antony Eagle
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate understanding of some central philosophical debates in contemporary philosophy of logic and language.
- Analyse contemporary and historical argumentative texts and extract the relevant views and arguments from them.
- Accurately present philosophical arguments in written form and oral contexts (individual and/or group).
- Evaluate philosophical arguments about logic and paradoxes, providing appropriate grounds.
- Identify and use relevant evidence to support hypotheses concerning logic and paradoxes.
- Present a sustained argumentative case in written form, addressing potential counterarguments and objections.
- Understand and use a variety of formal approaches to model and represent paradoxical reasoning
University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Deep discipline knowledge
- informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
- acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
- accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
1,2,3,4,5,7 Critical thinking and problem solving
- steeped in research methods and rigor
- based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
- demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
2,3,4,5,7 Teamwork and communication skills
- developed from, with, and via the SGDE
- honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
- encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
3,6,7 Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
2,3,6,7 Intercultural and ethical competency
- adept at operating in other cultures
- comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
- able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
- demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
Set readings are provided online through an electronic reading list distributed through MyUni. There is also a set textbook which contains core topics, plus useful supplementary material:
R M Sainsbury (2009), Paradoxes. Cambridge University Press, 3rd ed.
Copies of the set text will be available through the Co-op. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
No information currently available.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
WORKLOAD TOTAL HOURS STRUCTURED LEARNING 1 x 2 hour lecture (recorded) per week 24 hours per semester 1 hour (or equivalent) participation in discussion forums 12 hours per semester SELF–DIRECTED LEARNING Required reading, 4.5 hours per week 54 hours per semester Discussion forum preparation, 1 hour per week 12 hours per semester Assignment preparation, 4.5 hours per week (average) 54 hours per semester TOTAL 156 hours Learning Activities Summary
WEEK LECTURE TOPIC 1 Introduction: The Nature of paradox. Part I: Vagueness 2 Vagueness introduced. Supervaluationism 3 Vagueness and degrees of truth 4 Vagueness and ignorance Part II: Rational Belief and Action 5 Degrees of belief; the preface and lottery paradoxes 6 Puzzles of Rational Decision 7 Puzzles of evidence: confirmation and induction Part III: Truth 8 Truth and the Liar 9 Dialetheism Part IV: Conditionals 10 The English ‘if’ and the logical arrow 11 Modal conditionals, modus ponens, and import-export 12 Radical views: Suppositions and restrictions Small Group Discovery Experience
SGDE experiences are provided through individual and group participation in weekly discussion forums – in-person workshops for the internal mode delivery of this course, and via online asynchronous discussions forums for the external mode delivery. Students are involved in small groups and, after a set period of contribution has elapsed, share the results of their small group discussion with the whole group, and learn from peers about the results of discussions in other groups. (Groups are set different topics.) These activities build skills in accurate recording, summarization, presentation, and communication, and are student led in terms of focus and content. The lecturer monitors the discussion forum, both in person and online, and will intervene strategically with each group individually to take note of discussion and to suggest questions for further discussion as well as facilitate the whole discussion. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
ASSESSMENT TASK TASK TYPE WEIGHTING COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME(S) Weekly online quizzes Summative/Formative 40% 1,2,3,4,7 Research Essay (2500 words) Summative 50% 1,2,3,4,5,6 Discussion prompt short answers Formative/Summative 10% 1,2,3,4,5 Assessment Detail
Weekly online quizzes
Students take 10 weekly online quizzes; best 8 count 5% each. A mixture of question types including some multiple choice. Reinforcing technical skills. 40% weighting.
Research essay
Essay of ~2500 words covering a topic from the course, or by negotiation. Essays will be expected to go beyond prescribed course material and will require further research. 50% weighting.
Discussion prompt short answers
Students answer a short answer (~150 words) to a prior set question online, then discuss answers with a smaller group, presenting small group discussion results to larger group on an occasional basis in the discussion forums and/or workshop. Evaluated over the course of the semester. Evaluation focussed primarily on participation and development rather than summative achievement. 10% weighting.
Submission
No information currently available.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
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- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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