BUSI4H815: Logic and Argumentation in the Social Sciences

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• The module offers an overview of some logical models offered in the social sciences in the course of the last two decades. Instead of making the overview comprehensive, the module focuses on a hands on approach, discussing in details what made these models desirable, what (meta-) features are unavoidable, what are only convenient, what have these models achieved and what are the remaining deficiencies. In short, it aims to teach how to construct and improve such models, and when to abandon them.

• (1) Classical Propositional Logic
• (2) More classical First Order Logic
• (3) Models for non-monotonic reasoning 1 (propositional)
• (4) Models for non-monotonic reasoning 2 (first order)
• (5) Modal Models 1 Facts, Perception and Taken-for-grantedness
• (6) Modal Models 2 Typecasting
• (7) Analytical models (What happens ultimately?)
• (8) Probabilistic models and induction

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Have advanced knowledge of logic and argumentation in social sciences;
• Have advanced knowledge of what made classic models in social sciences desirable, what (meta-) features are unavoidable, what are only convenient, what have these models achieved and what are their remaining deficiencies.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Have a comprehensive understanding of how to construct and improve models in social science, and understand when to abandon them;
• Have advanced skills and ability to theorize in the social sciences.

Key Skills:

• The ability to carefully and critically evaluate models in the social sciences;
• The ability to carefully craft and theorize models in the social sciences.

• The module will be delivered in a series of 8 hybrid lecture-seminars over term one.
• By commenting on each others suggestions students will acquire both the capability and the attitude to critically evaluate and improve their research.
• Learning will also occur through tutor-supported classrooms and through self-support learning groups, thus enabling students to develop their own effective research strategies and critical evaluation skills.
• Formative assessment is by a 1,000 word document outlining aspects of strength and weakness of a particular theory in a relevant field to the students programme of study.
• Summative assessment of the module is by a 3,000 word written assignment assessing a chosen theory in a field relevant to the student.

Students will be required to submit a 1,000 word document outlining aspects of strength and weakness of a particular theory in a relevant field to the students programme of study.

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