Logic: Language and Information

Subject UNIB10002 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Standard

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 hours of lectures each week, and 2 hours workshops for 8 weeks of the semester
Total Time Commitment: an average of 8 hours each week.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: No specific background knowledge is required for enrolment in this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Subject Overview:

Our world is saturated with information, but many people don"t have a good idea of what information is. How can we represent and manipulate information? What kinds of relationships hold between pieces of information? Answers to these questions use the tools of modern logic. The same logic that can be used to understand the hardware and software of our digital devices and the Internet, also underlies our understanding of thought and language.

This subject is an introduction to formal logic and its applications in language, computation, engineering, mathematics and philosophy. We cover core techniques in propositional and predicate logic, which is a key ingredient of the intellectual infrastructure of many academic disciplines. We will draw on the many different ways in which these techniques are motivated and applied. This will give students an understanding of the different ways we can represent information with clarity and precision, and provide the tools to reason.

Objectives:

Students who successfully complete this subject will have:

  • examined critically, synthesised and evaluated knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
  • expanded their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
  • the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems

Assessment: Homework tasks equivalent to 1,000 words 15% (completed throughout the semester ). two group work project tasks, one completed mid-semester and one completed at the end of semester 20%. a written test 10% (mid-semester). workshop participation 5%. and a written exam 50% (examination period).
Prescribed Texts:

Greg Restall, Logic (Routledge 2006). A collection of other texts will be made available online.

Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Upon completion of this subject, students should:

  • Be able to think critically and to organise information in clear and precise ways
  • Have developed analytical skills through participation in lecture, tutorial and other assignments
  • Have improved skills in formal reasoning
  • Have developed an appreciation of and a familiarity with cross-disciplinary techniques
  • Have developed experience and skills in working in a group
Links to further information: http://www.philosophy.unimelb.edu.au/courses/undergrad/breadth.html
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy

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