The most recent edition of Intermediate Logic has two new sections, Unit 4 and Unit 5. I’ve included these new units in the text because I wanted to answer the important question, “What are some practical applications of the tools that we are learning about, i.e. truth tables, formal proofs, and truth trees?” I believe that the applications of these tools in the new units will deepen and solidify student understanding of the concepts that, up to that point, have been largely theoretical.
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Unit 4 (Lesson 28) gives logic students the opportunity to analyze chains of reasoning. The arguments to be analyzed are taken from Boethius’s The Consolation of Philosophy, the Apostle Paul’s argument proving the general resurrection of the dead in I Corinthians 15, and a section on angelic will from Augustine’s City of God. I work through this last one in full on the DVD.
An exercise not in the text that may be beneficial would be to have students write their own chains of reasoning, arguing for a conclusion of their choosing, in imitation of these authors. Their arguments must include at least one NOT, AND, and OR, and two IF/THENs. Tell them to include a truth-table or truth-tree analysis of their own chain of reasoning.
Unit 5 (Lessons 29-40) teaches students how to apply what they have learned to the fascinating topic of Digital Logic. Do not be intimidated by the 0’s, 1’s, and new symbols. It’s just the same old true, false, and logical operators that they have already learned about presented in a new way. Students often find this a fun application of what they have learned. It helps them to understand the electronic world around them, and it shows that the tools that they have learned apply not only to philosophy and theology, but to digital clocks and iPhones!
Hey Mr. Nance,
My name is Dima Mixon, I love your intermediate Logic curriculum, But I do not understand Lesson 33 on Finding Truth trees in digital Logic Gates/Circuits. Could you explain just a little bit more on that, please? I am 13 years old, in Classical Conversation Challenge B, in Mississippi. Thank you
Hi Dima.
Before I can answer your question, I must ask one: do you have the video lessons that accompany the text? That will make a big difference as to how I respond. If you do, can you be more specific with your question? Such as, can you give me an example of a problem that you are having difficulty with?
Blessings,
Mr. Nance
Hi Mr. Nance,
I got the videos and it helped me a great deal……!!!! I love your curriculam and God bless…..
Dima Mixon
Good to hear! Merry Christmas!
I need a tutorial lessons in Intermediate logic. Can you assist me?
Good afternoon, Mr. Nance,
I am an instructor in a home school co-op. I’ve been teaching both Intro and Intermediate Logic for almost 10 years now. I have always needed help with Exercise 21 – Truth-Functionally complete set, but never thought to ask until now.
I do understand that numbers 7 and 10 are negations of each other. I can work out the details for 10, but for the life of me, I don’t understand the answer for 7. It seems like the tilde was moved inside the parentheses arbitrarily.
Can you assist me? Yes, I do have and have watched the DVD’s numerous times. But that one has eluded me. Thank you.
Robin Parker