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There are 5 modules in this course
Deductive arguments are supposed to be valid in the sense that the premises guarantee that the conclusion is true. In this course, you will learn how to use truth-tables and Venn diagrams to represent the information contained in the premises and conclusion of an argument so that you can determine whether or not the argument is deductively valid.
Suggested Readings:
Students who want more detailed explanations or additional exercises or who want to explore these topics in more depth should consult Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic, Ninth Edition, Concise, Chapters 6 and 7 by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong and Robert Fogelin.
Course Format:
Each week will be divided into multiple video segments that can be viewed separately or in groups. There will be short ungraded quizzes after each segment (to check comprehension) and a longer graded quiz at the end of the course.
Welcome to Think Again: How to Reason Deductively! This course is the second in the specialization Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking, based on our original Coursera course titled Think Again: How to Reason and Argue. We are excited that you are taking this course, and we hope that you will stick around for all four courses in the series, because there is a great deal of important material to learn.In the series as a whole, you will learn how to evaluate deductive arguments. What is it for a deductive to be “valid”? And how can you tell the difference between deductive arguments that are valid and those that aren’t? In this course, we will answer these questions. The first part of this course introduces the series and the course. It also clarifies some peculiarities you may find with this course. We encourage you to watch the "Introduction to the Specialization" video first as it will help you learn more from the materials that come later.
What's included
1 video2 readings
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 5 minutes
Introduction to the Specialization•5 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Course Logistics (Start Here)•10 minutes
Report a problem with the course•10 minutes
Propositional Logic and Truth Tables
Module 2•6 hours to complete
Module details
This module we will teach you how such phrases as “and”, “or”, “if”, and “not” can work to guarantee the validity or invalidity of the deductive arguments in which they occur. It will also teach you to understand the functioning of these phrases using a device called a “truth-table”, which shows how the truth or falsity of propositions that use these phrases depends upon the truth or falsity of the propositions contained within it. We highly recommend that you practice the skills that you will learn in this module by doing the puzzles at betapuzzle.sonjara.com. If you want more examples or more detailed discussions of these topics, we recommend Understanding Arguments, Ninth Edition, Chapter 6.
What's included
14 videos8 assignments4 discussion prompts
Show info about module content
14 videos•Total 109 minutes
Introduction to Deductive Logic•10 minutes
Propositions and Propositional Connectives•5 minutes
"And" and the Truth-Functional Connectives•11 minutes
Using Truth Tables to Show Validity•5 minutes
Rules Variables and Generality•13 minutes
Disjunction•11 minutes
Combining Conjunctions and Disjunctions•6 minutes
Negation and Truth Functional Operators•7 minutes
Negating Conjunctions and Disjunctions•4 minutes
Commutativity and Associativity•11 minutes
The Conditional•14 minutes
Conditionals in Ordinary Language•4 minutes
Biconditionals•7 minutes
Conclusion•1 minute
8 assignments•Total 240 minutes
"And" and the Truth-Functional Connectives•30 minutes
Using Truth Tables to Show Validity•30 minutes
Disjunction•30 minutes
Negation and Truth Functional Operators•30 minutes
Negating Conjuctions and Disjunctions•30 minutes
The Conditional•30 minutes
Conditionals in Ordinary Language•30 minutes
Biconditionals•30 minutes
4 discussion prompts•Total 40 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: Validity•10 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: Truth Tables•10 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: The Variety of Truth-Functions•10 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: Using Truth-Tables to Prove Reasoning is Always Valid•10 minutes
Categorical Logic and Syllogisms
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
This module will teach you how such phrases as “all”, “some”, and “none” can work to guarantee the validity or invalidity of the deductive arguments in which they occur. It will also teach you to understand the functioning of these phrases using a device called a “Venn Diagram”, which shows how the truth or falsity of propositions that use these phrases depends upon the truth or falsity of other propositions that use these phrases. We highly recommend that you practice the skills that you will learn in this module by doing the puzzles at http://philgames-neta.apps.unc.edu. If you want more examples or more detailed discussions of these topics, we recommend Understanding Arguments, Ninth Edition, Chapter 7.
What's included
8 videos5 assignments3 discussion prompts
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 84 minutes
Categorical Logic•11 minutes
Categories and Quantifiers•18 minutes
How Quantifiers Modify Categories•10 minutes
Immediate Categorical Inferences•11 minutes
Syllogisms•10 minutes
Categories, Individuals, and Language•5 minutes
Venn Diagrams and Validity•14 minutes
Other Ways of Expressing A, E, I, or O Propositions•7 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
How Quantifiers Modify Categories•30 minutes
Immediate Categorical Inferences•30 minutes
Syllogisms•30 minutes
Categories, Individuals, and Language•30 minutes
Venn Diagrams and Validity•30 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 30 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: Categories and Objects•10 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: How Venn Diagrams Work•10 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: What Venn Diagrams Can and Cannot Represent•10 minutes
Representing Information
Module 4•1 hour to complete
Module details
In this module, we will teach you how to use the tools that you’ve learned about in the preceding modules in order to represent information. Information can be communicated in very different ways – by means of different languages or signaling systems – but no matter how that information is communicated, it can be important to use that information in reasoning. In this module, you will learn how to reason from information that is communicated directly by means of truth-tables or Venn Diagrams.
What's included
2 videos1 assignment2 discussion prompts
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 27 minutes
Reasoning from Venn Diagrams or Truth Tables Alone•15 minutes
Different Ways of Representing Information•12 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Reasoning from Venn Diagrams or Truth Tables Alone•16 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: Representational Formats•10 minutes
Share Your Thoughts: Information by Venn Diagram•10 minutes
Catch-Up and Final Quiz
Module 5•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module gives you time to catch up and review, because we realize that the previous modules include a great deal of challenging material. It will also be provide enough time to take the final quiz as often as you want, with different questions each time. We explain the answers in each exam so that you can learn more and do better when you try the exam again. You may take the quiz as many times as you want in order to learn more and do better, with different questions each time. You will be able to retake the quiz three times every eight hours. You might not need to take more than one version of the exam if you do well enough on your first try. That is up to you. However many versions you take, we hope that all of the exams will provide additional learning experiences.
What's included
1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Share your learning experience•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Final Quiz•30 minutes
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M
MR
5·
Reviewed on Feb 28, 2025
Extremely entertaining and captivating. I was unfamiliar with logic as a science, but now I enjoy its complexity. Love the teachers!
T
TF
4·
Reviewed on Feb 19, 2020
Somewhat confusing at certain points. The explanations don't exactly track the exercises that follow it. However, it is overall a useful course.
M
MV
5·
Reviewed on Sep 26, 2020
Good course. Unlike the first course of this series, this one is about formal logic. Participants can learn basic of propositional and categorical logics.
Will I receive a transcript from Duke University for completing this course?
No. Completion of a Coursera course does not earn you academic credit from Duke; therefore, Duke is not able to provide you with a university transcript. However, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.