They are the foundation of everything. If you don't understand how a conditional ( →right arrow
You may discuss problems with peers, but you must write the answers yourself to avoid plagiarism penalties. 🕒 Midterm / Final Exam Guidelines
is one of the most versatile and popular introductory courses offered by the Department of Philosophy at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) . Designed to be accessible to students from any academic faculty, this 6-credit course introduces the foundational principles of formal logic without requiring any prior knowledge of philosophy or mathematics. By training students to systematically analyze arguments using symbolic notations, PHIL1068 serves as an essential framework for critical thinking across fields as diverse as computer science, law, linguistics, and the social sciences. Course Objectives and Core Structure
), and conditional pathways used in Sentential Logic map directly onto the architecture of modern programming, algorithm design, and software engineering.
Unlike many other philosophy courses at HKU that are 100% coursework-based, PHIL1068 typically includes a Midterm Exam and a series of problem sets. Pros phil1068 hku
is one of the most popular introductory courses offered by the Department of Philosophy at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) . It functions as a foundational 6-credit course designed to improve your ability to think clearly, rationally, and systematically. Because it requires absolutely no prior background in philosophy or mathematics, it attracts students from every faculty across campus, including Law, Business, Science, and Social Sciences.
The syllabus for PHIL1068 transitions steadily from natural language analysis to highly structured symbolic notation. It is divided into three key structural units: 1. Basic Logical Concepts & Validity Understanding what constitutes an argument.
: The course has been offered in different formats, including a self-study course
Simply reading the textbook or lecture slides is not enough. You must physically complete practice problems and quizzes to train your brain. They are the foundation of everything
3. First-Order Predicate Calculus / Monadic Predicate Logic (MPL)
Sentential logic is limited because it cannot inspect internal sentence properties. This module fixes that by looking inside statements. PHIL 1068 Reading - Philosophy@HKU
This course fills up within 48 hours of course selection opening. Have a backup (e.g., PHIL1015), but set an alarm for 09:30 on enrollment day. The waitlist is notoriously long.
: Explores more advanced formal systems, including quantifiers, interpretations, and derivations. Typical Assessment Structure Designed to be accessible to students from any
The assessment structure for PHIL1068 is designed to test your ability to apply logical rules accurately through problem-solving rather than essay writing. PHIL 1068 Reading - Philosophy@HKU
A more advanced system that looks "inside" sentences using quantifiers like "all" ( ∀for all ) and "some" ( ∃there exists
The structure for PHIL1068 is designed to provide consistent feedback and allow for mastery of the material in stages. The course is [9†L7-L8] and is typically assessed through the following components:
: Students interact primarily with digital learning modules, making it a highly flexible option for busy timetables.
First-year to final-year students (no prerequisites).