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Critical Reasoning and Logic – Online Course

Veranstaltungsdaten

Scientists have to give arguments in many different contexts: in their publications, in grant-applications, in lab meetings and in conference presentations. Logic provides extremely helpful tools for scientists to develop their arguments in a coherent, well-structured and convincing way. The course introduces the most important concepts of logic: the premises and conclusions of arguments, the validity and soundness of arguments, deductive versus inductive reasoning, and common types of inferences and fallacies. The idea of the course is to use these concepts as a toolbox that provides useful techniques for everyday scientific work. The participants learn how to reconstruct arguments from scientific texts, how to give well-structured and logically valid arguments, and how to avoid misunderstandings.

Contents

• basic concepts of logic (validity and soundness of arguments, etc.)
• inductive and deductive arguments
• common types of fallacies
• reconstructing arguments from texts
• tips and exercises for written argumentation

Intended Learning Outcomes

After the course, you will

• be able to state your arguments in a precise and logically coherent way (trainer input and exercises),
• be able to break down arguments into their logical structure (exercise with participants’ texts), and
• know how to quickly identify strengths and weaknesses of arguments (trainer input and exercises).

Didactic Methods

The methods are interactive throughout. The course provides extensive exercises that aim at the application of the acquired skills to the participants’ individual fields of work. After the course the participants get individual feedback from the trainer on some of the extended exercises.

Requirements

To participate in the online course you need a PC/laptop with a current browser (recommended: Chrome or Firefox) as well as a headset (or speakers and microphone), possibly a webcam plus a stable Internet connection.

Proficiency in English at the B2 level of competency is required.

Dates

May 27, 2021, 9 am–3 pm, and
May 28, 2021, 9 am–3 pm

After the course participants can schedule an individual appointment with the trainer to get feedback on their texts and/or exercises.

Target group

Doctoral candidates and postdocs from all disciplines

Modalities

Maximum number of 12 participants
Internal 50 EUR
External 150 EUR

Registration

At mara.lnw@uni-marburg.de, deadline May 12, 2021
We kindly ask you to confirm your registration to make it binding. You may cancel your registration up to twelve days before the beginning of the course without providing specific reasons. Thereafter, you will be required to pay the attendance fee even if you do not attend the course.