ENLIGHT Courses

Logic: Capita Selecta

To familiarize the students with the contemporary logical literature and with techniques that are used in contemporary philosophical logic. 

About the course

Content

The attention is centred on texts that break with the views of traditional logic, as developed from Aristotle to the twentieth century. Special attention is paid to underlying philosophical problems, the connection with other philosophical questions, and research techniques that were developed for more recent logics.  

Learning outcomes

  1. To have mastered some contemporary research methods from philosophical logic  
  2. Thorough understanding of a number of non-classical logics  
  3. Insight in the philosophical basis of the main families of non-classical logics 

Teaching methods

Seminar, Lecture, Independent work, Peer teaching 

Extra information on the teaching methods: There are four modules and for each module texts are analysed, short presentations are given on the texts read, exercises are made, and solutions are proposed and compared.

The modules for 2025-2026 are: (i) preliminaries (sets and functions; syntax and semantics of first-order logic; possible-world semantics), (ii) adaptive logics and the formal study of defeasible  reasoning, (iii) modal adaptive logics, (iv) applications of adaptive logics.

Assessment

Assessment moments: end-of-term and continuous assessment 
Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the first examination period: Oral assessment, Written assessment, Assignment 
Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the resit examination period: Oral assessment, Written assessment, Assignment 
Examination methods in case of continuous assessment: Oral assessment, Participation, Written assessment, Assignment  
Possibilities of resit in case of permanent assessment: examination during the second examination period is possible in modified form 
Extra information on the examination methods: 
The evaluation in the first examination session is completely non-periodic. The following applies to each module:  

  • 1 point on participation (constructive participation in the tutorials, oral presentation of solutions to logical problems, critical study of and feedback on the solutions of others) 
  • 4 points on a "progress test" 

The evaluation in the second examination period is only possible in a modified form: 20 points on an oral exam, with written preparation, over the entire material (any points obtained for participation will lapse). 

Calculation of the examination mark: 

  • 100% non-periodic for the first chance exam  
  • 100% periodic for the second chance exam 

Lecturers

Meheus, Joke: lecturer-in-charge 

Course dates

This course takes place in the second semester of academic year 2025-2026:

  • Educational activities: February 9 to May 16, 2026
  • Catch-up activities: May 18 to May 23, 2026
  • Easter Recess: April 6 to April 18, 2026
  • Examination period: May 26 to July 4, 2026
  • Resit Examination period: August 17 to September 12, 2026

There will be one online lecture per week from February 9, 2026, to May 16, 2026. This will take place on Tuesdays from 2:30pm to 5:15pm (CET). Attendance is mandatory. For valid absences (for example due to medical reasons) additional materials and guidance will be provided for students to catch up.

  • Entry requirements: basic knowledge of logic
  • Type: virtual course
  • Level: Master
  • Host: Ghent University
  • Focus area: other area
  • Study Field: Humanities
  • Course dates: 9 Feb - 4 July 2026
  • Apply by: 19 December 2025
  • ECTS: 5
  • Registration status: Open
  • Number of places available: unlimited