required texts
1. Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, Douglas R. HOFSTADTER, Vintage Books, N.Y., 1979.
2. Logical Options: An Introduction to Classical and Alternative Logics, John L. BELL, David DEVIDI and Graham SOLOMON, Broadview Press, 2001.
requirements for credit
Homework: During the course, you will be assigned a number of homework problems, solutions to be handed in at the beginning of class (30%)
Leading class discussion on the readings assigned for one of the classes (10%)
Alternative Logics assignment: You are to investigate an alternative logic of your own choosing (e.g. Contextual Logic, Modal Logic, 3-valued Logic, Intuitionistic Logic, Fuzzy Logic, Quantum Logic, Free Logics), and construct a report (~2000-3000 words) on what motivated it, what particular problems or difficulties it resolves, and then give your own evaluation of its prospects of success—due on Avenue, by midnight, Monday, March 13. (20%)
Final Essay: (~6000 words) on a topic related to the Hofstadter readings—due on Avenue, by 11:59 pm, Thursday, April 13. (40%)