Milestone map
Milestone map
2 milestones
Do the problem sets and write them up
8–15 weeks (9 hrs/week)
Take Introduction to Formal Logic for free and do the exercises on truth tables, natural deduction for sentential and first-order logic, and soundness. Write every solution up in LaTeX and keep the source and the PDF in one public repo as you go.
Proof required
Link your public repo with the LaTeX source and the PDF of the exercises on truth tables, natural deduction for sentential and first-order logic, and soundness, and show your self-check (forall x solutions).
What gets checked
- Every derivation uses only the allowed rules, each cited.
- Answers match the solutions or are argued in full where they differ.
- First-order translations are exact.
Common mistakes
- Copying posted solutions: verifiers read the reasoning and the history.
- A proof that skips the hard step.
- Asking for review before the self-check.
Powstik Guide
A public repo with your LaTeX write-ups of the exercises on truth tables, natural deduction for sentential and first-order logic, and soundness.
Steps
- Make a public repo for this course.
- Do one problem set at a time; typeset it in LaTeX and commit.
- Self-check: The book comes with solutions to its exercises. Do each one first, then compare.
- Fix what the self-check shows, and say what you fixed.
- Ask three people who know the topic to check it.
Template
README Course: Introduction to Formal Logic (forall x: Calgary (Open Logic Project, free book)) What is here (problem sets, PDF): Self-check result: The hardest proof and why:
What gets sent back
- Answers with no reasoning.
- Photos of handwriting instead of typeset work.
- Self-check not shown.
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Every derivation uses only the allowed rules, each cited.
- Answers match the solutions or are argued in full where they differ.
- First-order translations are exact.
- Pick two proofs and check every step: each argument must be correct and complete, not just present.
- Ask about one step; the answer should be clear.
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Formalise a real argument
1–3 weeks (5–8 hrs/week)
Use what you learned. Make a proof set that translates three real arguments (from a textbook, a law or an essay) into first-order logic and proves each valid or gives a counter-model. Typeset it in LaTeX (or a notebook with LaTeX maths) in your public repo.
Proof required
Link a proof set that translates three real arguments (from a textbook, a law or an essay) into first-order logic and proves each valid or gives a counter-model, in your public repo.
What gets checked
- Each translation keeps the meaning of the original.
- Each derivation is complete and correct.
- Each counter-model really makes the premises true and the conclusion false.
Common mistakes
- A gap in the main argument.
- A result stated but not proved.
Powstik Guide
A proof set that translates three real arguments (from a textbook, a law or an essay) into first-order logic and proves each valid or gives a counter-model.
Steps
- Write one line: what you will prove or show.
- Draft it, then read it cold the next day.
- Ask someone to read it and mark the first step they doubt.
- Fix it and typeset the final version.
- Ask three people to check it.
Template
Title: What this shows: Main result (statement): Proof: What I would look at next:
What gets sent back
- A main step left unproved.
- Not clearly the person's own work.
- Claims more than it proves.
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Each translation keeps the meaning of the original.
- Each derivation is complete and correct.
- Each counter-model really makes the premises true and the conclusion false.
- Every argument must be correct and complete; mark the first gap you find.
- Check that the work is the person's own.
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.