Ateneo - UPO

The course aims to provide fundamental cultural and scientific methodologies and skills for the development of logical-argumentative and critical reconstruction skills, both inductive and deductive. It also aims to provide techniques of argumentation and rational reply to arguments of various types. The course is divided into three parts: the first part deals with the theory of argumentation and the analysis of argumentation fallacies and the most frequent errors induced by cognitive biases; the second part is a brief introduction to classical logic; finally, the third part deals with the correctness of non-deductive reasoning, such as analogical, causal and inductive reasoning. The course will not be technical. Particular attention will be paid to the theory of dialogical systems developed in artificial intelligence.

Attending and non-attending students:

1) F. D'Agostini, "Le ali al pensiero. Introduzione alla logica'. Carocci, Rome 2015 and following, chapters 2-4 (non-attending students are also strongly advised to read chapter 1)
2) C Canale, D., Ciuni, R., Frigerio, A., Tuzet, . (eds.) "Critical thinking: un'introduzione". Egea, Milan 2021, chapters 1-4, 7 (sections 1 and 2),8,10,11.
(english edition is also accepted: "Critical thinking: an introduction", Bocconi University Press 2022).
3) One reading on argumentative IA systems among those to be posted by the lecturer on the DIR platform.

The course qualifies as a kind of 'toolbox' for improving our argumentation and mastering different styles of reasoning. Its aim is to refine the student's ability to adequately justify a thesis, to refute the theses of others, to identify errors in reasoning, to judge alternative theses by critically evaluating the reasons given in support, both in everyday and scientific discourse.
The course therefore aims to provide fundamental cultural and scientific methodologies and competences for the development of logical-argumentative and critical reconstruction skills, both inductive and deductive. It also aims to provide techniques of argumentation and rational reply to arguments of different kinds. The course is divided into three parts: the first part deals with deductive reasoning and in particular with deductive correctness standards; the second deals with inductive arguments, understood in a general sense as non-deductive arguments, including causal inferences, analogical inferences and abductive inferences (inference to the best explanation. Particular attention is paid to argumentative fallacies and cognitive biases. Finally, the course also aims to train students in rational argumentation through knowledge of the main contemporary theories of argumentation and the ability to apply argumentative strategies in concrete settings. These skills, which are as relevant in traditional legal professions as in further professional fields - such as public administration - will also be cultivated through specific debate and argumentation exercises. The course also aims to explore the application of argumentation theory to dialogue systems developed in the field of artificial intelligence, fostering understanding of the phenomena governing the use of information technologies in companies, public administration and society.

Adequate expressive skills and interest in reasoning and argumentation, and a general level of culture appropriate for enrollment in a university course.

Lectures, also with the use of audiovisuals; in-class exercises; case discussions, argumentative agons.

Students are invited to follow the updates of the course page published on DIR for supplementary readings as well as for the detailed program of the course.

The examination consists of three tests, the purpose of which is to check comprehension of the topics discussed in class and mastery of the logical and argumentative tools introduced.
a) Deductive logic - practical test: three short elementary exercises similar to those previously carried out in class or presented in the reference manual; a model of the test will be made available on the DIR (up to 10 points)
b) b) Argumentation theory: analysis of one or more short texts: identification of the argumentative structure, of the support provided by the premises to the conclusion, of any reasoning and argumentative errors contained in the text. Assessment of the strength of the argument (up to 10 points).
(c) Discussion of an essay of your choice on applications of argumentation theory to artificial intelligence (up to 10 marks and possible honours). Possibility of presenting a short essay or report in class, to be agreed with the lecturer.

A) DEDUCTION
- Introduction to deductive logic: analysis and argument structure
- Logical language: normative standards and the transmission of truth
- How to proof
-Logical fallacies and cognitive biases
B) NON-DEDUCTIVE REASONING
- Counterfactual and causal reasoning
- Choice of the best explanation and reasoning from effects to causes
- Inductive reasoning
- Most common inductive and probabilistic fallacies
- Reasoning by analogy

C) THE ART AND SCIENCE OF RATIONAL ARGUMENTATION
- Theories of argumentation and rational discussion
- The pyramid of disagreement
- How to respond rationally to an argument
- Persuasive arguments
- Applications of argumentation theory to artificial intelligence

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course, the student will be able to
Strengthen their knowledge of the logic and method of legal reasoning with the tools of formal and informal logic to
- Identify the structure of an inductive or deductive argument
- Avoid logical fallacies
- Seek to refute the arguments of others
- Evaluate the strength of analogical arguments
- Reasoning from causes to effects and from effects to causes
- Know the most common statistical and probabilistic errors
- Reasoning about how the situation might have evolved if different preconditions had been realised (counterfactual reasoning)
- Knowledge of the cultural roots of the elaboration of dialectical and dialogical systems in artificial intelligence
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course, the student will be able to
- Determine the conditions under which a concrete deductive argument is valid, correct and/or persuasive and an inductive argument is plausible
- Recognise logical fallacies in argumentation and avoid committing them
- Choose the appropriate argument to refute other arguments in reasoning
- Apply arguments strategically in interpersonal communication