Logical Foundations of Science and Computing, Fall 2007
http://grace.evergreen.edu/lfsc/
This page was last updated on 08/25/17.
Catalog Description
This program introduces the logical, historical, and mathematical foundations of problem solving and computing in the sciences. Students in the program will study the evolution of rational thought and mathematical abstraction in the history of science along with the systems of logic and programming that we use today for problem solving in science, mathematics, and computing.
Early Greek philosophers dared to assume that humanity could comprehend the true nature of the universe and the material world through rational thought. Using historical readings we will investigate key conceptual developments in the evolution of scientific and mathematical thought from those early intellectual explorations to the twentieth century. At the same time we will learn the powerful formal systems of logic and computing into which those early ideas have evolved today. We will study first order mathematical logic and its relationship to early Greek rational thought, contemporary critical reasoning, and scientific theories. We also will study how logic is used to build modern digital computers and how mathematical abstraction and logic combine in the creative act of constructing computer programs to solve problems. Class activities will include hands-on laboratory work in programming and logic along with lectures, weekly readings, seminar discussions, written essays, and weekly homework problems.
Themes of Study and Equivalent Credits
The program will be organized around logic and computation both as it evolved
historically and as we understand it today. Through the eyes of the earliest
thinkers we will see the roots of science, mathematics and logic as a human
endeavor; a desire to understand ourselves and our place in the universe.
At the same time we'll practice skills and techniques of reasoning, abstraction,
and computation that are the foundation of contemporary scientific
understanding of the material world. Our goal is to bring these ends of time
together into a broader and deeper understanding of the foundations of
science while building practical skills in logic, mathematics, and computing.
We'll explore fundamental concepts of logic and
mathematics in the context in which they evolved in the history of science, so
this is a great chance to make sense out of mathematics beyond just symbol
manipulation by looking at the original motivations for its use. Of course
learning mathematics requires doing mathematics, so there will be a good
portion of weekly problems to solve and discuss. We'll also have two lab times
a week to work on deductive reasoning in logic and computer programming in
the language Python.
Class activities will include lectures, labs, readings, problem solving,
short essays, discussion, and presentations. Credit equivalencies for this program are likely to include
- Introduction to Mathematical Logic
- Critical and Deductive Reasoning
- History of Science and Mathematics
- Introduction to Programming
Textbook and Seminar Reading List
- Language, Proof and Logic by Jon Barwise and John Etchemendy;
published by the Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI);
Note: You must buy this book new in order to be able to use the software
required for our program.
- Python Programming, an Introduction to Computer Science by
John Zelle;
Franklin, Beedle & Associates;
- The Presocratics by Philip Wheelwright;
Prentice Hall;
- Five Dialogues, 2nd edition by
Plato, translation by G. M. A. Grube;
Hackett Publishing Company;
- The Measure of Reality:
Quantification and Western Society, 1250-1600 by
Alfred W. Crosby;
Cambridge University Press;
- The Copernican Revolution:
Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought by
Thomas S. Kuhn;
Harvard University Press;
- Relativity: The special and General Theory by
Albert Einstein;
Three Rivers Press;
Class Schedule
Class activites will include lecture, mathematical reading, problem solving,
programming, short essays, discussion, and presentations.
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
10:00 - 12:00 |
Lecture Sem2 A3109 |
Lecture/Workshop Sem2 A3109 |
Logic Lab Cal West |
Lecture/Workshop Sem2 A3109 |
No classes |
1:00 - 3:00 |
Seminar Sem2 A3109 |
Programming Lab ACC |
|
|
(Prep day) |
Due: |
Seminar reading
Essay draft/idea
BE Reading
BE Homework |
Zelle reading
Zelle questions
Zelle programs
|
|
Essay
Final Homework
Self Assessment
Weekly portfolio |
|
BE: Barwise & Etchemendy
Schedule of Assignments
The schedule of homework and lectures is based on the principle that
the ability to learn on your own and in collaboration with others
is an essential skill that one must gain from a college education.
In the spirit of that principle, you will be expected to study the texts and
do homework before the faculty lectures on the topics. You
may initially find this unfamilar or even uncomfortable, but collaborative work
with other students and the faculty during the week is rewarding and will
allow you to clarify and reinforce your understanding of the material we are
studying. Your are expected to have reading and homework done to the best
of your ability on the scheduled days so you can knowledgeably participate
in class activities. Your final homework assignments are
due to the faculty on Thursday.
- Monday All seminar textbook readings, handout readings and
assigned homework for History of Science
must be completed and ready for questions, discussion, or presentation.
Also all reading and problems for
Language, Proof, and Logic (Barwise & Etchemendy)
must be completed to the best of your ability and ready for questions,
discussion, or presentation.
You must also prepare a draft of a typed, double-spaced one-page
maximum length essay presenting your understanding of what you see as the most
significant idea covered in the seminar readings for the week. The essay must
have a clearly stated thesis with elaboration and support from the texts.
The essay is not due until Thursday with your portfolio, but
you must be prepared to read your essay draft to the class and
elaborate your ideas during seminar discussions on Monday.
- Tuesday All readings, review questions, and programs
for Python Programming (Zelle)
must be completed to the best of your ability and ready for questions,
discussion, and presentation.
- Thursday A portfolio for the week with your problem solutions,
your essay, and your logic results, and your programs is due by 6:00pm
under my office door.
Include a Status and Self-Assessment with your portfolio each week.
On that form, indicate how much of the assigned work you have completed
and discuss your understanding of the material covered during the week.
You are expected to keep your weekly portfolios in a well-organized
cumulative portfolio for submission at the end of the quarter and for
possible periodic inspection during the quarter.
Outline of Assigned Readings
History of Science and Deductive Reasoning.
Week Weekly Book Reading Supplementary Reading
---- ------------------- ---------------------
1 Wheelwright, Presocratics TBA
2 Wheelwright, Presocratics TBA
3 Wheelwright, Presocratics TBA
4 Plato, Dialogues TBA
5 Plato, Dialogues TBA
6 Crosby, Quantification TBA
7 Kuhn, Copernican Revolution TBA
8 Kuhn, Copernican Revoluation TBA
9 Einstein, Relativity TBA
10 Einstein, Relativity
Logic, Proof, and Programming
Week Zelle (Z) Reading Barwise & Etchemendy (BE) Reading
---- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
1 Ch 1 What is Computer Science Ch 1 Atomic Sentences
2 Ch 2 Variables & Assignments Ch 2 The Logic of Atomic Sentences
3 Ch 3 Numbers Ch 3 The Boolean Connectives
4 Ch 4 Strings Ch 4 The Logic of Boolean Connectives
5 Ch 5 Graphics and Objects Ch 5 Methods of Proof for Boolean Logic
6 Ch 6 Functions Ch 6 Formal Proofs and Boolean Logic
7 Ch 7 Decisions Ch 7 Conditionals
8 Ch 8 Loops & Booleans Ch 8 The Logic of Conditionals
9 Ch 9 Simulation & Design Ch 9 Introduction to Quantification
10 Review and Reflection
Credit and Evaluation Policy
Successful learning requires active involvement in learning activities:
reading, writing, problem solving, discussion, and lecture .
The credit and evaluation policy is based on this observation.
Credit will be awarded for participating in and completing the entire body
of work for the program at a passing level of performance. Credit decisions
and evaluations will be based on
- attendance and active participation,
- on-time completion of readings and written assignments, and
- satisfactory performance on all exams and written work.
The quality of your work, the level of your understanding, and the extent of
your improvement will be reflected in your evaluation.
As a general policy credit will be awarded on an all or none basis,
although the faculty reserves the right to make exceptions to that rule.
No incompletes will be given.
Attendance is required at all program activities. Failure to attend
one third or more of scheduled class meetings or failure to submit one third or more of assigned work is sufficient grounds for loss of credit.
Failure to achieve satisfactory results on exams or failure to submit
satisfactory written assignments in a timely way is sufficient grounds for
loss of credit.
Cumulative portfolios of all written work may be reviewed periodically and are
due along with draft self evaluations on Thursday of the last week of
classes. Final self evaluations and faculty evaluations on the official
evaluation forms are due at your evaluation conference scheduled during
week 11 of the quarter.
Faculty
Neal Nelson, Lab 1 2010, 360-867-6738, nealn@evergreen.edu