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.