Philosophy involves thinking critically - the student of philosophy must be able to identify
theses, identify premises offered in support of those theses, and to develop alternative arguments and
interpretations. The department requires that majors develop their critical thinking skills by completing
at least one course in logic. Possible courses include:
- 210 - Logical Thought
- 225 - Symbolic Logic
'Logical Thought' focuses on basic critical thinking skills, including the identification of arguments, premises and
conclusions, as well as strategies for distinguishing between good and bad arguments. 'Symbolic Logic' delves more
deeply into the philosophical analysis of argumentation.
Philosophy majors are highly encouraged to take Symbolic Logic (225), as the tools introduced in that course
appear frequently in contemporary and past philosophic debates.
After Symbolic Logic, there is a wide array of additional courses in logic available for those students who find
philosophical logic interesting.