The author emphasizes the importance of Descartes's ideas in establishing a foundation for a Logic course focused on rigorous argumentation. The course uniquely starts with formal logic, which the author believes prepares students better for understanding and constructing logical arguments. This approach contrasts with other methods that begin with informal logic, which can cause confusion in basic logical structures. A streamlined version of Sentential Logic (SD) is utilized to keep students engaged with fundamental rules, improving their ability to engage with arguments critically before tackling more complex logical forms later.
The decision to use a simplified version of SD is foundational, as it helps students focus on formal logic before abstracting it towards common reasoning.
Beginning with formal logic allows students to grasp essential skills in distinguishing premises from conclusions and evaluating the strength of arguments.
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