Skank

Congrats to Christina, Dara, and Austin for figuring out that the phrase "Shut your stinking trap" comes from a sketch on the Ben Stiller Show. It was, of course, the catchphrase of a surly sock puppet named Skank.

Pretty obvious, really.

Homework #3

Here are the assigned problems to do for Homework #3. This homework is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 2nd.

• page 48: 1h, 1j, 1L, 1n
• page 49: 5b, 5d, 5h, 5L
• page 58: 1b, 1d, 1f
• page 59: 3b, 3d, 3f, 3h

Git to gittin'!

Homework #2 & the Quiz

In case you didn't get the handout passed out in class, here's homework #2. It's due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, September 25th. (A printable version is available here.)

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Multiple Choice. Circle all answers that are correct. There can be more than one correct answer! Some, none, or all choices may be correct!

1. If an argument is valid and at least one of its premises is false, then
a) the argument must be unsound.
b) the premises must form a consistent set.
c) the conclusion must be logically indeterminate.
d) at least one premise is false.

2. If an argument is unsound, then
a) the argument must be invalid.
b) the argument is possibly valid.
c) the conclusion must be false.
d) at least one premise must be false.

3. If an argument is sound, then
a) its premises must form a consistent set.
b) its conclusion must be true.
c) its premises, together with its conclusion, must form a consistent set.
d) it is possible for there to be a false premise.

4. If the conclusion of an argument is true, then
a) the argument must be valid.
b) if the argument is sound, then it must be valid.
c) if the argument is valid, then it must be sound.
d) The conclusion is logically indeterminate.

5. If all the premises of an argument are true and its conclusion is false, then
a) It is possible that the argument is valid.
b) The argument must be invalid.
c) The premises must form a consistent set.
d) It is possible that the argument is sound.

True or False
___6. If a set of statements contains a logically true statement, it must be consistent.

___7. If a set of statements contains a logically false statement, it must be inconsistent.

___8. If an argument is sound, then its conclusion must be logically true.

___9. If an argument is sound, then its conclusion must be true.

___10. It’s possible for all members of an inconsistent set to be true (at the same time).

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Also, a reminder that we're having our first quiz on Tuesday, September 25th. Expect it to look like the first two homework assignments, as well as the group work we've done in class.

Cat Statements

What kind of statements are these?

Let me know in the comments.

Facebook Groups are the New Email Forwards

Easy guess, I know, but still:
Add Pluto Back to Planet Status

Oh, Facebook! What don't you do?

Homework #1: Statements & Sets

Homework #1 is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, September 18th. Answer the following problems on pages 22-24 of the textbook:

• 1b, 1d
• 2b, 2d, 2f, 2h, 2l
• 4h, 4l
• 5b, 5d, 5f
• 6d, 6j, 6l

Go to it!

1st Week References

Here are some of the things we discussed in class this week (click the blue links for more info):

-buy the textbook here
-dancing in films
-the movie Election
-comedian Dane Cook (thief?)
-confirmation bias
-the band The Killers
-NPR
-the TV show Arrested Development (Beads?!?)
-consensus decision-making
-the color blue

Did I forget anything? Let me know.