Logical Methods

Logic, in its broad sense, can be seen on the one hand as a set of unifying languages for the systematization of scientific knowledge, on the other as a set of tools for any practical application based on information processing. This course will provide students with an overview of logical methods useful for both theoretical and practical applications. Students will learn how to design formal languages and compute with them for the resolution of theoretical and practical problems. The approach is thus at the same time abstract and practically oriented, so as to make the course useful for science as well as philosophy students.

Knowledge acquisition and understanding
Students are expected to acquire a full understanding of the formal notions presented and master basic knowledge of the following topics:
- Formal Methods and their applications:
- Basic mathematical notions (sets and their operations, relations, functions)
- Basic data structures (lists, trees, graphs)
- Regular Expressions
- Finite State Machines
- Classical logic and its applications:
- The semantics of classical logic
- Proof systems for classical logic
- Main applications of classical logic (automated theorem proving, logic programming)
- Non-classical logics and their applications:
- Modal and epistemic logics
- Many-valued logics
- Logics for vagueness and uncertainty
Skills acquisition and ability to apply knowledge:
Students are also expected to develop an ability to apply this basic knowledge to solve simple problems and to engage in further research within more advanced projects in specific applications of their interest. Notions and methods will be introduced in a problematic way so as to stimulate a critical, rather than passive, attitude towards knowledge. We also expect that training students in the use of formal languages and logical tools will improve their capability of communicating ideas, both at a theoretical and practical level, with the required precision and a sufficient amount of rigour.