Objective 9-1
Understand what truth-functional logic is. Objective 9-2
Achieve familiarity with the basic elements of truth-functional logic. - Know what claim variables are and how they are symbolized.
- Learn the precise (truth-table) definitions of negation, conjunction, disjunction, and the conditional.
- Know the basic rules for constructing a truth table.
- Understand how to represent all possible combinations of truth values for the individual sentences in a complex claim.
Objective 9-3
Be able to use truth-functional logic to represent and work with more complex sentences. - Keep the distinction between "if" and "only if" clear and in mind.
- Understand what necessary and sufficient conditions are.
- Feel comfortable translating such natural-language expressions as "unless" and "either" into exact logical symbols.
Objective 9-4
Understand how to represent and work with truth-functional arguments. - Know how a truth table can demonstrate when two claims are logically equivalent to one another.
- Understand how a truth table displays an argument's validity or invalidity.
- Attain mastery at using truth tables to evaluate an argument's validity.
- Learn the short table method for checking validity.
Objective 9-5
Understand the method of deduction and be able to use it to determine an argument's validity. - Understand what a deduction is and how it proves its conclusion.
- Learn when and under what conditions to use the Group I rules for elementary valid argument patterns.
- Memorize all those Group I rules, including: modus ponens, modus tollens, the chain argument, disjunctive arguments, simplification, conjunction, addition, constructive dilemma, destructive dilemma.
Objective 9-6
Understand how to identify and work with truth-functional equivalences in the context of argument deductions. - Memorize all Group II rules for truth-functional equivalence, including: double negation, commutation, implication, contraposition, DeMorgan's Laws, exportations, distribution, and tautology.
- Learn what a truth-functional equivalence is and how Group II rules are applied differently from Group I rules.
Objective 9-7
Understand what the method of conditional proof is and how it can be used to show the truth of conditional claims. - Learn the basic strategy by which a conditional proof constructs an if-then sentence.
- Master the steps of a conditional proof.
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