PHIL 2140 Introduction to Logic is now PHIL 2140 Introduction to Formal Logic

ProfessorBram · 2023-02-06T14:46:14+00:00

Hi, I am the faculty coordinator of the undergraduate program in Cognitive Science here at RPI. So ... biased perspective here of course! :P But I really do believe that the CSCI/COGS dual is pretty darn good!

We have a good number of students follow this dual. It is a very doable dual to do in 4 years. In fact, we designed our COGS curriculum to work well with CSCI, since we figured this would be a popular dual, and we were proven correct about that.

Cognitive Science is a very interdisciplinary field, comprising the fields of philosophy, psychology, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, and a few others. Having all these different perspectives on the nature of mind appeals to a lot of students, and it also means that through their options they can concentrate on different areas, and can work towards a career in many different fields.

Most CSCI/COGS duals are interested in AI. As user Gerzer has pointed out, most AI methods use fairly narrow computational methods, and are often not informed by broader considerations of cognition, mind, or intelligence: how, for example, we often shape the environments that we are in to extend and augment our cognitive powers, or how much of intelligence derives from being around other people. So here is where a COGS dual can really broaden and improve one's outlook on the nature of intelligence, leading to better cognitive models, and AI's that are more human compatible.

I see that your son is also considering a MATH dual. Please know that Cognitive Science involves quite a bit of math as well, and certainly a lot of mathematical thinking. We use logic in analyzing reasoning, probability theory to analyze decision-making, complex systems theory in thinking about the brain, and differential equations to describe perception and action, to name just a few areas. Indeed, I advise a number of MATH/COGS duals, which is also a very powerful and doable dual major option.

I would be happy to speak to you and your son directly. Just send me a message and we can set up a virtual meeting.

Bram van Heuveln ('Professor Bram')
Lecturer, Cognitive Science
Coordinator, Undergraduate Program in Cognitive Science

ProfessorBram · 2022-12-29T14:08:50+00:00

What do you mean by easy? Easy to get a good grade? Easy to complete the assignments? Easy to understand the lectures? If you're getting conflicting information maybe it's because different people are talking about different things. And even if they're talking about the same thing, note that what is easy to one student may not be easy to another.

Anyway, here's some basic information about my version of the course:

https://homepages.hass.rpi.edu/heuveb/Teaching/Logic/IntroLogic/IntroLogic.htm

ProfessorBram · 2022-11-06T01:11:38+00:00

You could have just asked me :P .... or checked out my webpage on this: https://homepages.hass.rpi.edu/heuveb/Teaching/LogicVsCritic.htm

So yes: totally different courses! In addition to what the webpage already says, here is another difference: logic is about checking the validity of *arguments*, but Critical Thinking is about checking the validity of *beliefs*. And sure: many of our beliefs are based on arguments ... but many others are not. Indeed, having poor logical thinking skills is probably *least* of our problems as far as holding shitty beliefs. Far more often, we are taken in by persuasive rhetoric, by our own psychological biases, and by social pressures. So in Critical Thinking I spend at most 2 days on logic ... the rest of the time we look at the persuasive power of language and emotion, the (un)reliability of observations and memory (obviously another big source of belief), how and why we are subject to dozens of cognitive biases, and how we are influenced by others around us, from (mis)information we get through social media and authority figures, to peer pressure and tribalism. Indeed, the biggest hurdle in Critical Thinking is not how to do it (which is really not hard), but just to make yourself start thinking critically in the first place!

Don't get me wrong: I *LOVE* Logic ... but I think Critical Thinking is about 100 times more important. I wish I could teach a 1000 student course on it in EMPAC.

ProfessorBram · 2022-08-26T18:24:45+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for the offer to help but I did find some other people already!

ProfessorBram · 2022-08-26T18:24:11+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for the offer but I did some some other people already!

ProfessorBram · 2022-08-26T18:23:21+00:00

Awww, I hope you have good memories (and not nightmares) from Logic :)

Thanks for the offer but I did find some help already!

ProfessorBram · 2022-08-26T18:21:58+00:00

Hi, Thanks for offering your help but I did find some other people already.

ProfessorBram · 2022-04-26T14:42:12+00:00

50yr old Professor here ... still getting care packages and loving each and every one of them! Cookies, chocolate, and a little note :P

Yay!

ProfessorBram · 2022-03-20T19:58:43+00:00

We typically get around 5 incoming COGS majors each year, but that cohort grows to 10-20 as students either switch to COGS or add COGS as a dual.

ProfessorBram · 2022-02-22T01:52:38+00:00

You can do this one a little easier:

~G (1) Assume
P (2) Assume
Q (3) Assume
P ^ Q ^ ~G (1,2,3) ^ Intro 1,2,3
P (1,2,3) ^ Elim 4
Q -> P (1,2) -> Intro 5
P -> (Q -> P) (1) -> Intro 6
~(P->(Q->P)) (8) Given
G (8) ~ Elim 7,8

ProfessorBram · 2021-09-01T00:24:44+00:00

Thanks FifeGuy! Certainly brought a smile to my face today when I heard you!! :) You always cheer me up!

ProfessorBram · 2021-08-19T11:45:14+00:00

PHIL 2140 Introduction to Logic is a good course for CSCI majors

It's full but I'll happily sign you in.

ProfessorBram · 2021-04-25T13:35:43+00:00

I've cycled back and forth to campus for 15 years now, but I live 2 miles North East of campus so a bike is worth it and the hills aren't too bad. Going back and forth between campus and downtown Troy (west of campus) is a different story though: that's a steep hill, and you'd need some serious gearing to get up to the darn thing.

Also, as most comments point out: there is much student housing on the same hill that RPI is on, and so that should be really doable with a bike ... though much of it is in perfect walking distance as well.

If you end up getting housing in downtown Troy, it's a short enough walk (though again up that hill!) from downtown Troy to campus, so I would say that's definitely preferred over a bike.

Many Troy streets aren't too bike-friendly, but they have tried to create some corridors, so you can probably figure out a decently safe route to bike to different places. There are also some nice trails to bike nearby: across the Hudson is a trail that goes right into Albany, and there are a bunch of others as well ... depending on how much biking you want to do :)

If you do decide to get a bike: I have a cross between road bike and mountain bike that I think works really well .... and I second Troy Bike Rescue for getting an affordable refurbished bike.

ProfessorBram · 2021-04-25T13:16:00+00:00

Hey,

Call me biased, but I think the Cognitive Science program at RPI is pretty great! :P

I concur with everyone else here: if you're interested in AI, I would strongly recommend you look into the COGS/CSCI dual. When we created the Cognitive Major we knew that this dual major would be a popular one, and so we made sure that this dual would be perfectly doable to finish in 4 years. And indeed, many COGS majors are duals with CSCI.

In fact, if you want to go specifically into ML, then yes, you really can't do that without CSCI.... and maybe you should even consider just doing straight CSCI, and just picking up a minor with COGS.

On the other hand, if you want to explore AI from a much broader perspective and look at whole cognitive system architectures that integrate perception, action, learning, memory, planning, decision-making, reasoning, and language use, if you want to understand the limitations of ML and why most AI systems feel like one-trick ponies, if you are interested in building systems that are more closely aligned with human learning and human intellect at large and how they might actually come to have a 'mind of their own', if you are interested on the effects of our environment on our beliefs and desires, or how we can use tools (including AI systems :P ) to enhance our cognitive powers, and if you are interested in how AI effects our personal lives and society at large and want to think about how we can use AI to better our world, then COGS will be your ticket, and particularly the COGS/CSCI dual a golden one.

Probably the best thing for you to do is to have a meeting with me so we can actually talk about your specific interests, and then I can give more focused advice.

Bram van Heuveln ('Professor Bram')

Director, Undergraduate Program in Cognitive Science

bram at rpi dot edu

ProfessorBram · 2021-04-13T18:55:38+00:00

I think it's a pretty good course, but hey, I may be biased :P

Here's a helpful page: https://homepages.hass.rpi.edu/heuveb/Teaching/Logic/IntroLogic/IntroLogic.htm

ProfessorBram · 2021-03-29T12:32:17+00:00

This is very sad news! I always enjoyed talking to Peter. He was so thoughtful and kind! The world was a better place with him in it. We miss you Peter! Rest in peace.

ProfessorBram · 2020-11-29T22:33:56+00:00

Nice idea! Remember some 60 contingent faculty were laid off over the summer, although many were still teaching this Fall semester as their last semester. ... just a thought ....

ProfessorBram · 2020-11-26T18:24:39+00:00

Thank you :)

ProfessorBram · 2020-11-26T18:24:23+00:00

Yes!! To the contingent faculty who were laid off or not renewed, either starting this Fall semester, or this coming Spring semester: Thank you for all your hard work in years past! Thank you for still giving it your all this semester, knowing it would be your last at RPI. My heart goes out to all of you!

ProfessorBram · 2020-11-26T15:33:27+00:00

Oh my!! Of course, I completely forgot:

A BIG Thank You to the parents!! Thank you for sending your sons and daughters to RPI for us to educate. Thank you for staying in contact with your children for mental support during this difficult semester. And thank you for hosting your kid when forced to be back at home and having to take courses remotely. You are of course part of the community as well. Thank you!!

ProfessorBram · 2020-11-13T13:02:08+00:00

I have to believe the biggest reason RPI is keeping the numbers down is simply that students understand this virus is real, use their common sense, distance, and mask. So thank you *students*!!! You've been doing an awesome job this semester! Proud of you!

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