main content

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,
• know how to quickly identify strengths and weaknesses of arguments, and
• give convincing arguments in text and oral discussion.

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 participants can 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) as well as a headset (or speakers and microphone), a webcam and a stable Internet connection.

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

Date

July 11, 2024, 9 am–3 pm, and
July 12, 2024, 9 am–3 pm

Target group

Doctoral candidates and postdocs from all disciplines

Modalities

Maximum number of 12 participants
Internal 50 EUR
External 150 EUR

Registration

Please register until June 26, 2024 using the online registration form.