POLSC 135 1st Edition Lecture 2Outline of Last Lecture:Syllabus DayOutline of Current Lecture: Introduction, Logic Current Lecture:I. Terms to know before studying politics:- Falsifiability: The thing that distinguishes science from nonsience is that scientific statements must be falsifiable. (i.e. science can be tested and proven wrong)- Tautologies: a statement that is true by definition.- Scientific Method: Describes the process by which scientists learn about the world. (Question, theory, implications, observations, evaluation) - Uniformity principle: If x causes y, then it should be the same tomorrow (x still causes y). - Theories: theories are essentially models, and models may be formal or informal by nature. II.Introduction to Logic: -In logic, there are valid and invalid arguments. -An argument is a set of logically connected statements in the form of a set of premises and a conclusion. -A premise is a statement that is presumed to be true within the context of an argument leading to a conclusion. -A conclusion in an argument is a claim that is thought to support another claim. -An argument is validwhen accepting the premises compels us to accept its conclusion. -An argument is invalid if, when we accept the premises, we are free to accept or reject its conclusions.-Categorical Syllogism: consists of a major premise, minor premise, and a conclusion.-The major premise is typically a conditional statement such as “If P, then Q.”-The “If” part is called the antecedent.-The “then” part is called the consequent.-Example: “If a country is poor, then it will be socialist.”-The minor premise consists of a claim about either the antecedent or theconsequent of the conditional statement.These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. It is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.-The conclusion is a claim that is thought to be supported by the premises.End
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