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PH210-15 Logic II : Metatheory

Department
Philosophy
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
Walter Dean
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

PH210 Logic II: Metatheory

Module aims

To expose students to the basic metalogical notions of soundness and completeness. A natural deduction system for propositional and first order logic will be introduced and proven to be sound and complete. Along the way, basic mathematical tools needed for proving these results will be developed. These include elementary set theory and inductive proofs and definitions.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

  • Week 1: introduction, set theory, inductive definitions
  • Week 2: syntax and semantics of propositional logic
  • Week 3: natural deduction
  • Week 4: soundness of propositional logic
  • Week 5: completeness of propositional logic
  • Week 7: syntax and semantics of first-order logic
  • Week 8: natural deduction and soundness for first-order logic
  • Week 9: completeness for first-order logic
  • Week 10: the compactness Theorem and applications
Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the Soundness and Completeness Theorems for propositional and first-order logic and related technical results and definitions (subject knowledge and understanding)
  • understand the significance these concepts and results have for logic and mathematics (cognitive skills)
  • use and define concepts with precision, both within formal and discursive contexts (key skills)
  • write precise mathematical proofs (subject specific skills)
Indicative reading list

Our primary text will be

  • Logic and Structure, 5th edition by Dirk van Dalen, Springer Verlag, 2013

in which we will cover most of chapters 1-4. The whole book is available electronically through the library via the above link.

The same material is also covered at a more elementary level in chapters 15-19 of

  • Language, Proof and Logic, Jon Barwise and John Etchemendy, CSLI Publications, 2002.

Students lacking a background in elementary discrete maths (e.g. basic set theory and mathematical induction) are encouraged to obtain

  • How to prove It: A Structured Approach, Daniel J. Velleman, Cambridge University Press, 2006.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Demonstrate knowledge of the Soundness and Completeness Theorems for propositional and first-order logic and related technical results and definitions
Understand the significance these concepts and results have for logic and mathematics
Use and define concepts with precision, both within formal and discursive contexts

Transferable skills

Understand definitions and proof techniques from metalogic applicable in other domains -- e.g. such as mathematical and structural induction, basic set theoretic operations and constructions
The ability to comprehend and construct precise mathematical proofs"

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 9 sessions of 3 hours (18%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Private study 114 hours (76%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

No private study requirements defined for this module.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group B5
Weighting Study time
Online Examination 100%
  • Online examination: No Answerbook required
Feedback on assessment

Discussion and feedback on exercises during seminar.

Past exam papers for PH210

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • UMAA-GV17 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of GV17 Mathematics and Philosophy
  • UMAA-GV18 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Intercalated Year
    • Year 2 of GV18 Mathematics and Philosophy with Intercalated Year
    • Year 2 of GV18 Mathematics and Philosophy with Intercalated Year
  • Year 2 of UMAA-GV19 Undergraduate Mathematics and Philosophy with Specialism in Logic and Foundations

This module is Optional for:

  • UECA-LM1D Undergraduate Economics, Politics and International Studies
    • Year 2 of LM1D Economics, Politics and International Studies
    • Year 2 of LM1D Economics, Politics and International Studies
  • UPHA-V700 Undergraduate Philosophy
    • Year 2 of V700 Philosophy
    • Year 2 of V700 Philosophy
    • Year 3 of V700 Philosophy
    • Year 3 of V700 Philosophy
  • Year 4 of UPHA-V701 Undergraduate Philosophy (wiith Intercalated year)
  • Year 4 of UPHA-V702 Undergraduate Philosophy (with Work Placement)
  • UPHA-VQ72 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature
    • Year 2 of VQ72 Philosophy and Literature
    • Year 3 of VQ72 Philosophy and Literature
  • UPHA-V7ML Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics
    • Year 2 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
    • Year 2 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
    • Year 2 of V7ML Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Tripartite)
  • UPHA-V7MM Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MQ Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Bipartite) with Intercalated Year
    • Year 4 of V7MH Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Economics/Philosophy Bipartite (Economics Major) (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MF Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Economics/Politics Bipartite (Economics Major) (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MI Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Philosophy/Economics Bipartite (Philosophy Major) (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MJ Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Philosophy/Politics Bipartite (with Intercalated year)
    • Year 4 of V7MG Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Politics/Economics Bipartite (Politics Major) (with Intercalated year)

This module is Option list A for:

  • UPHA-VL78 BA in Philosophy with Psychology
    • Year 2 of VL78 Philosophy with Psychology
    • Year 3 of VL78 Philosophy with Psychology
  • Year 4 of UPHA-VL79 BA in Philosophy with Psychology (with Intercalated year)

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
  • UMAA-G105 Undergraduate Master of Mathematics (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 2 of G105 Mathematics (MMath) with Intercalated Year
    • Year 3 of G105 Mathematics (MMath) with Intercalated Year
  • UMAA-G100 Undergraduate Mathematics (BSc)
    • Year 2 of G100 Mathematics
    • Year 2 of G100 Mathematics
    • Year 2 of G100 Mathematics
    • Year 3 of G100 Mathematics
    • Year 3 of G100 Mathematics
    • Year 3 of G100 Mathematics
  • UMAA-G103 Undergraduate Mathematics (MMath)
    • Year 2 of G100 Mathematics
    • Year 2 of G103 Mathematics (MMath)
    • Year 2 of G103 Mathematics (MMath)
    • Year 3 of G100 Mathematics
    • Year 3 of G103 Mathematics (MMath)
    • Year 3 of G103 Mathematics (MMath)
  • UMAA-G106 Undergraduate Mathematics (MMath) with Study in Europe
    • Year 2 of G106 Mathematics (MMath) with Study in Europe
    • Year 3 of G106 Mathematics (MMath) with Study in Europe
  • Year 2 of UMAA-G1NC Undergraduate Mathematics and Business Studies
  • Year 2 of UMAA-G1N2 Undergraduate Mathematics and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 2 of UMAA-GL11 Undergraduate Mathematics and Economics
  • Year 2 of UECA-GL12 Undergraduate Mathematics and Economics (with Intercalated Year)
  • UMAA-G101 Undergraduate Mathematics with Intercalated Year
    • Year 2 of G101 Mathematics with Intercalated Year
    • Year 4 of G101 Mathematics with Intercalated Year
  • UPHA-VQ72 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature
    • Year 2 of VQ72 Philosophy and Literature
    • Year 3 of VQ72 Philosophy and Literature
  • Year 4 of UPHA-VQ73 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature with Intercalated Year

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 3 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
  • Year 4 of UHIA-V1V6 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad)

This module is Option list E for:

  • UPHA-V7MW Undergraduate Politics, Philosophy and Law
    • Year 2 of V7MW Politics, Philosophy and Law
    • Year 2 of V7MW Politics, Philosophy and Law