Logic: Language and Information (UNIB10002)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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Information is everywhere: in our words and our world, our thoughts and our theories, our devices and our databases. Logic is the study of that information: the features it has, how it's represented, and how we can manipulate it. Learning logic helps you formulate and answer questions about information:

* Does this hypothesis clash with the evidence we have or is it consistent with the evidence?

* Is this argument watertight, or do we need to add more to make the conclusion to really follow from the premises?

* Do these two sentences say the same things in different ways, or do they say something subtly different?

* Is this information belong to in my database, and what procedure could we use to get the answer quickly?

* Is there a more cost-effective design for this digital circuit? And how can we specify what the circuit is meant to do so we could check that this design does what we want?

These are questions about Logic. When you learn logic you'll learn to recognise patterns of information and the way it can be represented. These skills are used whether we're dealing with theories, databases, digital circuits, meaning in language, or mathematical reasoning, and they will be used in the future in ways we haven't yet imagined.

If you take this subject, you will learn how to use the core tools in logic: the idea of a formal language, which gives us a way to talk about logical structure; and we'll introduce and explain the central logical concepts such as consistency and validity; models; and proofs in propositional and predicate logic. But you won't just learn concepts and tools. We will also explore how these techniques connect with problems in linguistics, computer science, electronic engineering, mathematics and philosophy.

Intended learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this subject will:



  • develop and demonstrate and understanding of the core features of propositional and predicate logic, including translating into and out of the formal languages; manipulating models and proof trees, and using these to make simple judgements concerning validity, consistency, equivalence, etc.;
  • develop a command of the different ways formal logic can be applied in problems in computer science, digital systems, linguistics, mathematics and philosophy;
  • work in groups to clarify problems, apply reasoning techniques to different issues, and to critically evaluate the results;
  • construct arguments and answer questions, bringing together both formal and informal reasoning techniques—to clarify issues, analyse options and propose solutions.

Last updated: 12 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 12 April 2025

Assessment

Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Online homework tasks

Throughout the semester24%

Three written group work project tasks

Throughout the semester21%

Workshop participation

Throughout the semester5%

A written exam

  • 3 hours
During the examination period50%
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of workshops in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.Throughout the teaching periodN/A

Additional details

Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

Last updated: 12 April 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    Principal coordinatorGreg Restall
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours48 hours - 2 x 1 hour lectures each week of semester and 1 x 2 hours workshops for 11 weeks.
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020
    Last self-enrol date13 March 2020
    Census date30 April 2020
    Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020
    Assessment period ends 3 July 2020

    Semester 1 contact information

    restall@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

170 hours

Last updated: 12 April 2025

Further information

Last updated: 12 April 2025