The Pythagorean Academy

Summer 2015

Logic Course: Introduction to Logic 1

General Details
What this course is?
This is an intensive two-week long logic course. Logic, as you may learn should you enroll, is a science going
beyond basic reasoning. It can be said that logic is the science of reasoning and argumentation, but it is really
much more. Its true that logic can be used by debaters, politicians, and teachers to better convey arguments,
all the while being able to find out faulty reasoning, but logic can also be used by doctors to piece together
different information to diagnose a disease (Dr. House anyone?), it is used by mathematicians, and physicists
to ensure that new formulae are without fault, and that their theories are coherent. And if youre in for the
Sherlock Holmes style, logic can also be used for detective purposes (incidentally the writer of Sherlock
Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was an expert in logic; as was Lewis Carroll who wrote Alice in
Wonderland). It is of course most famously used by philosophers to justify their complex esoteric writing.
This course does not promise to make one an expert in the ways of reasoning; what it does promise is to
provide the basic understanding of logic, to the extend where one can easily manipulate logic symbology;
understand logical fallacies; make use of propositional proofs, and much more. I personally promise you that
this will be a very rewarding experience. As this is an extremely intensive course we will be covering a lot of
material and by the end of the course you will easily be able to find faults in the most complex of arguments,
as well as formally derive refutations (thats right, logic can be used to actually figure out the refutation to an
argument).

Who this course might benefit?

The simple answer would be anyone, and everyone. Whether you plan on playing the stock markets, or
decode Goethes Faust, logic is an invaluable tool which can help you understand the argument, and easily
find its faults or weaknesses. It also helps people build new arguments, which are valid, and sound. These
terms are very important and well be covering them in our course.
To be specific however, for teenagers, logic is invaluable in debating. If one has a solid control over logic one
can raise their debating prowess to a new level. Other than this, studies show, that those who know logic do
better in the SAT, and SAT 2 Mathematics. If youre applying to England for courses in the humanities or
social sciences you will have to pass the Thinking Skills Assessment, a test which is based on formal logic
training. The field of logic is especially important for those attempting the LSAT which tests how well your
logical intuition is (best to get ahead and study it beforehand, no?). Other fields that require logic may be
journalism, psychology, lawthe list goes on.
In essence if youre a high spirited thinking individual, who likes to analyze arguments then this course is for
you. (Also colleges go wild when they see knows formal logic on personal statements-look it up)

Are there prerequisites to this course?

The first and foremost is the desire to learn, and to do so happily. If you have that, you really dont need much
else. A working understanding of written and spoken English is needed (as the majority of the course is taught
in the English language). One should have a command over arithmetic, and know the basics of algebra (this is
so one is familiar with abstract symbology, we wont be using algebra, much).
To avoid mishaps I am restricting the minimum age for this course to be 15. If anyone younger wishes to
apply, they may do so, however the odds are I wont allow them in the course unless they show extraordinary
brilliance and enthusiasm.

How and where will this course be taught?

Although this is supposed to be an intensive course (covering nearly a semesters worth of material in two
weeks) I have designed it so that the material can easily be understood and processed. That said logic is not

The Pythagorean Academy

Summer 2015

the easiest of disciplines, but if you promise to have patience and determination, I promise that this course will
be fun and rewarding.
The course will be taught in a series of lectures, in an interactive classroom environment. That said, the
courses location will most likely be my house in Defense, Lahore. The classroom will be air conditioned, and
drinks, as well as snacks, are free of charge.
In this course we will have four lectures a week, with the total duration of the course being two weeks (see
more below in course details). In each lecture we will first study the concepts in the syllabus, and then well
do multiple examples to hone the concepts home. With each lecture short lecture notes will be given, as well
as compulsory homework exercises, and non-compulsory exercises.

Is this course accredited? Will we receive a certificate?

This course is not accredited by any university or governmental organization, but you will receive a
certificate. The highlight here is that those who pass this course with a percentage of more than 85% will
receive a Certificate with Distinction which will be signed (other than me) by Mr. Ahmad Javaid of
Iqbal Academy, and Mr. Peter Hunt, professor of philosophy at the University of Oxford. You will have
two scholars, who are well respected in their fields (one the head of Pakistans largest think-tank; the other a
professor at Oxford University) give their signature confirming your competence in basic logic.
Please note that while Mr. Ahmad Javaid, and Mr. Peter Hunt are associated with the highest level of
institutions, their signature here is their own personal endorsement. It in no way reflects the endorsement,
views, opinions, or recommendation of Iqbal Academy or Oxford University. This certificate will carry no
weight in Oxford University credits, and is completely independent of Oxford and Blackfriar Hall. Both
parties are not endorsing this as their capacity of head of Iqbal Academy, and Professor of Philosophy
respectively.
What the signature does show is that I will be taking help from two experts in making this course, and they
will be reviewing the exams and tests I make, all the while helping me out. This ensures that the course is well
thought out, and mostly without error. I will also be taking assistance from Mr. Jason Sexton of Cambridge
University, a renowned philosopher and theologian. Any error left, is of course, due to my own fault.
Other than that anyone who receives more than 65% will have passed the course and will get a certificate
stating thus, but it will only carry the stamp of the academy, and the teacher. Following this course will be the
course Introduction to Logic 2 in late August, anyone who wishes to apply for that course needs to graduate
with a 75% or higher percentage, and receive the certificate with honor.

Who will be teaching this course?

My name is Hamzah Abdur Rauf, but my friends refer to me as a nickname I received a few year ago: Ajab.
I am currently enrolled in the Advanced level program. My interest in theology started when I did the
television program named Hamzanama with Mr. Ahmad Javaid when I was 8 years old. I have also been
studying philosophy since I was 11, my first book being The Symposium by Plato. When I was 15 I taught
myself logic, and since then have taught mathematics and logic to my friends. I offered this course because
logic is a wonderful tool which can help one get much better grades, and in general lead a more intellectual
life style. It is because of logic that I got 95% on my SAT Critical reading.

Course Details
Duration: 2 weeks (lectures) + 2 days (exams)
Dates: 22nd of June (Monday) 3rd of July (Friday) [all days inclusive]
Date of exam: TBA
Days and hours: 4 days/week with 3 hours lessons each day
Total days and hours: 10 days (4 days/week for two weeks + 2 exam days), around 28 hours in total (of
which 24 hours are of lessons) + 30 minute private tutorial to discuss personal issues

The Pythagorean Academy

Summer 2015

Syllabus
Week One
1. Introduction to logical philosophy; of basic terminology; non-formal logic systems; discussion of
types of paradoxes; fun logical puzzles and famous paradoxes; important definitions in philosophy;
introduction to logical fallacies
2. Introduction to Aristotelian logic: syllogistic logic; deductive logic rules; different tests (star-test,
Venn diagram); logic symbology; translations and harder logical wffs; basics of stoic logic
3. Further syllogistic logic; inductive syllogistic logic; overview of Mills methods; probability theory;
idiomatic sentences
4. Further inductive logic; analogical reasoning; scientific laws; common problems with induction;
review of week one, and problem discussing.

Week Two
1. Introduction to propositions; introduction to propositional symbology; basic propositional logic; truthtables, unknown evaluations; truth-table/truth-assignment test
2. Further propositional logic; Idiomatic sentences; S-rules; I-rules; mixing S-I rules; extended
inferences
3. Introduction to Propositional proofs; further proof methods; fundamental laws of logic (excluded
middle, identity, non-contradiction)
4. Discussion of modern logic, history of logical sciences; philosophical logic; scope of logic in sciences
and arts, review of the two weeks.
This is only a rough outline, and the Pythagorean Academy reserves the right to add/subtract material as it
sees fit.

Fees and Application Process:

Fees (complete pack): 5,000 pkr (includes classes, exams, and tutorial)
Fee (to attend one week): 2500 pkr (does not include exam or tutorial)
Fee (to attend the exam): 1000 pkr (to take the final exam and receive a score and certificate, if applicable)
Fee (complete pack exam): 4,500 pkr (no exam or certificate)
Whichever option you choose, you have to present 50% of the fees within the first two days of the course, and
the remaining may be paid by Thursday of the second week, that being the 2nd of July, 2015.

Application & Questions

The application to enroll can be made by an email sent to: abulajab@outlook.com.
Please make the subject of the email: Logic Course-Summer 2015
Please add the following details in the email:
Your full name and age
Your cell phone number + house number (if you have one)
A link to your Facebook (no I dont intend on stalking you)
The general area you live in (Defense/Model Town/Gulberg)
If you are under 18 please add the following details to the email:
Your father/mother/legal guardians name
Please note you can only apply if you are a resident of Lahore, unless you plan on making a trip to Lahore each time
the class is held.
Address any questions or queries to: abulajab@outlook.com
I hope you join me this summer for a wonderful course, which will not only boost your intelligence, but will look
wonderful on your CV or personal statement.