Advanced Logic (PHIL-UA-72)

NYU - Fall 2013

Instructor: Paul Egré
paul.egre@nyu.edu

Teaching Assistant: Ian Grubb
ikg205@nyu.edu

Mon-Wed. 2-3.15pm

Bldg: GCASL / Room: 275

Course description

This course will be devoted to the study of predicate logic and its metatheory. The course's ambition is to consolidate the elements acquired in a first course in logic, and to introduce elements of model theory and proof theory for first-order logic. On the proof-theoretic side, the plan is to introduce standard proof methods, in particular tableaux and sequents, to prove their soundness and completeness, and to examine the relation between both methods. On the model-theoretic side, the course will focus on some central notions (isomorphism, elementary equivalence, compactness), so as to characterize the expressiveness of first-order logic. Time permitting, the course will also give elements of second-order logic, in order to get a better grasp of some fundamental concepts of first-order logic (such as identity, existence, and quantifiers). Validation will be based on regular homework assignments, a midterm and a final exam.

Prerequisites

A first course in logic (viz. PHIL-UA 70), and some familiarity with propositional logic at the very least. Students must be ready to engage with both basic computations and abstract mathematical reasoning.

Textbook and Course Format

The required textbook for this class is David Bostock's Intermediate Logic (OUP, 2008, available from the NYU bookstore). For each session, you will be required to read part of the book. It is important that you read those sections the week you have the class, to make sure you follow and understand. Not all sections of Bostock's book may be covered, and the plan is also to cover some additional material that is not in the book. The course will point you toward additional resources, but Bostock's manual will be our core reference.

Course material

The course notes and material will be made available to enrolled students via the NYU plaform.

Assignments

Homework assignments (50% of grade), a midterm (15%) and a final exam (35%). Homework will be collected every other monday in class. You must do the homework by yourself. Late assignment policy: late assignments should be turned in no later than 12pm of the requested deadline, in Ian Grubb's mailbox (6th floor) or by email to Ian.