🗓️ Lecture 04: Logic, argumentation, models, and explanation
Rescheduled session. This lecture was originally scheduled for 5 October 2026 and had to be cancelled; it took place on 19 October 2026 instead. All later lectures moved by one week as well — see the lecture overview.
Take-home examination I on logic and argumentation belongs to this lecture. It is published on Moodle on 21 October 2026 and must be submitted there by 4 November 2026, 23:59.
🎯 Content and goals
On logic, argumentation, and models:
- You know different types of arguments, most importantly deductive and inductive arguments and the most common argumentative fallacies.
- You can evaluate an argument and know the difference between the concepts of validity and truth.
- You can analyze arguments through reconstruction.
On scientific arguments, models, and explanation:
- You understand the concepts of a theory, a model, and an explanation, as well as the deductive-nomological model.
- You know about the structure of scientific progress and scientific paradigms.
- You understand the concepts of ontology, epistemology, and methodology.
🖥️ Lecture Slides
📚 Mandatory Reading
- Shrader-Frechette (2014: 17–28)
🏆 Further Readings
On logic, argumentation, and models:
On scientific arguments, models, and explanation:
- Reiss (2013: 15–26)
- Popper (2007)
- Hansson (2021)
✍️ Exercises and coursework
Take-home examination (pass/fail; you must pass two of the three take-home examinations to be admitted to the final exam — see the seminar description):
- Take-home examination on Logic & Argumentation, published after this lecture via Moodle.
If you have questions or problems, please post them in the Moodle forum.