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Logic Unlocked: Surviving and Thriving in PHIL1068 at HKU If you’ve recently added PHIL1068: Elementary Logic to your course list at The University of Hong Kong, you might be feeling a mix of curiosity and "what have I done?" Logic is famous for being the "math of philosophy," and while it can be intimidating, it’s also one of the most rewarding 6-credit courses you can take. What is PHIL1068 anyway?

Unlike your typical philosophy class where you debate ethics or the meaning of life, PHIL1068 is an introduction to formal logic. You’ll spend your time learning:

Sentential Logic (SL): Breaking down sentences into symbols like ¬logical not ∧logical and ∨logical or →right arrow Predicate Logic (PL): Dealing with quantifiers like "all" ( ∀for all ) and "some" ( ∃there exists

Natural Deductions: Solving logic puzzles by deriving conclusions from premises using specific rules. The Self-Study Reality

PHIL1068 is often run as a self-study course with no mandatory lectures or tutorials. This is great for your schedule, but it means you are the captain of your own ship. All materials are online, and the Philosophy@HKU website is your new best friend. 3 Tips for the "A" Grade

Don’t Fall Behind: Because there are no weekly meetings, it’s easy to procrastinate. Set aside a "logic hour" three times a week to work through the online exercises.

Master the Truth Tables: They are the foundation of everything. If you don't understand how a conditional ( →right arrow

) works early on, you’ll struggle when things get more complex.

Collaborate (Safely): You are permitted to discuss problem sets with classmates, but you must write the answers yourself. Explaining a derivation to a friend is actually the best way to see if you truly understand it. Why Bother?

Beyond the credits, logic improves your ability to think clearly and systematically. Whether you are a Law student, a CS major, or a Literature enthusiast, the ability to spot a fallacy or build a rigorous argument is a superpower in any career.

Good luck with those derivations! If you get stuck, don't forget to check the discussion forum or reach out to the course tutor. PHIL 1068 Facts - Philosophy@HKU

In the halls of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) , there’s a legendary academic "trial" that many students face: PHIL1068: Elementary Logic

. This course isn't just about truth tables or predicates; for many, it’s a story of isolation and intellectual survival. The Lone Quest for Truth Unlike the buzzing lecture halls of HKU, is often a self-study course phil1068 hku

. There are no lectures to hide in and no tutorials to guide you. It’s just you, your textbook, and the digital void of an online forum. The story usually begins with a student thinking, "It's just logic, how hard can it be?"

—only to find themselves at 3:00 AM staring at a "Well-formed formula" (WFF) that looks more like an alien transmission than a sentence. The "All-or-Nothing" Midterm The climax of every PHIL1068 semester is the Midterm in LE1

. There are no makeup exams. It is a high-stakes moment where students who have been studying in silos finally see their "fellow survivors." The silence in the room is heavy with the mental strain of identifying validity and soundness amidst a sea of symbols. The Survival Rules

To make it through this HKU rite of passage, students often follow an unwritten code: The Collaboration Paradox:

You are permitted to discuss problems, but you must write your derivations alone. It’s a delicate dance of helping friends without failing for plagiarism. The Race Against the 10%:

Every day a problem set is late, 10% of the grade vanishes. In the world of PHIL1068, time is the ultimate logical constant. The Logic Trap:

Because it's open to all faculties, you'll see engineering students who think it's "too easy" and arts students who think it's "too math-heavy." Both are usually humbled by the first derivation exercise.

Ultimately, the "story" of PHIL1068 is one of clarity. By the end, students find that their ability to think systematically

has changed. They no longer see arguments—they see structures. or a breakdown of the current semester's syllabus

Since I do not have access to the specific real-time assignment details for PHIL1068 (Ethics in Contemporary Society) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) this semester, I have written a sample post based on a classic topic often covered in this course: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

This post is structured to meet the standards of a typical HKU Philosophy "reflection post" or "discussion board entry"—it is concise, argumentative, and applies philosophical concepts to a contemporary issue.

2. Summary of Key Philosophical Positions

• Outline 2–3 central arguments from the course material.
• Use textual evidence (quotations/paraphrases with citations if required).

Final Verdict: Is PHIL1068 HKU Worth It?

Yes. For the average HKU student, PHIL1068 offers a rare opportunity to earn credit for thinking about your personal life critically. You will leave with more questions than answers—specifically, better questions. You will never watch a romantic comedy the same way again. Logic Unlocked: Surviving and Thriving in PHIL1068 at

Enrollment Strategy: 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.

4. Personal Reflection

• How has the material affected your understanding of the issue?
• Provide reasoned support for your own view (if the assignment asks for it).

Introduction: What is PHIL1068 at the University of Hong Kong?

If you are a student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) browsing the Course Selection List (REGIS) or planning your Arts/Social Sciences electives, you have likely encountered the course code PHIL1068. Officially titled "Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Friendship," PHIL1068 is one of the most popular and intellectually stimulating introductory philosophy courses offered by the Department of Philosophy.

Unlike traditional philosophy courses that focus solely on Plato or Kant, PHIL1068 tackles questions that are deeply personal and universally relevant. Why do we love specific people? Is it rational to be jealous? Can prostitution be morally permissible? What is the difference between a friend and a mere acquaintance?

This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of PHIL1068 HKU—from course syllabus and reading lists to exam tips and professor reviews.

Other "Interesting Report" Topics for PHIL1068

If you are looking for other ideas for a project or report based on the syllabus of this course, consider these:

A. The Liar Paradox (Formal Logic focus)

• The problem: Is the statement "This sentence is false" true or false?
• Why it's interesting: It creates a contradiction in standard truth-table logic. If it is true, it is false. If it is false, it is true. This forces a re-evaluation of how we define "truth predicates" in formal systems.

B. Truth Tables and Circuit Design (Real-world Application)

• The problem: How does the propositional logic taught in class translate to computer architecture?
• Why it's interesting: You can report on how logical connectives like AND ($\land$), OR ($\lor$), and NOT ($\neg$) correspond directly to physical logic gates in CPUs. This bridges the gap between abstract philosophy and computer science.

C. Cognitive Biases vs. Logical Fallacies (Critical Thinking focus)

• The problem: Differentiating between a formal logical error and a psychological bias.
• Why it's interesting: A report could analyze the difference between the Ad Hominem fallacy (a logical error) and the Halo Effect (a psychological bias), arguing whether logic alone can correct human irrationality.

If you are looking for a specific past student paper or a specific dataset, please note that HKU keeps student coursework confidential. However, the philosophical topics above are standard curriculum material for PHIL1068.

PHIL1068: Elementary Logic at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a 6-credit introductory course designed to develop systematic reasoning skills using formal symbolic notations. It is often offered as a web-based, self-study course with no prerequisites, making it accessible to students from all faculties.  Course Overview & Content 

The course provides a comprehensive introduction to first-order logic, divided into two primary areas: 

Sentential Logic (SL): Covers basic logical concepts, syntax, and semantics. Key methods include using truth tables to evaluate validity and natural deduction for constructing proofs. Outline 2–3 central arguments from the course material

Predicate Logic (PL): Moves into advanced topics like quantifiers, interpretations, identity, and natural deduction within first-order predicate calculus.  Assessment Structure 

Based on recent syllabi, the grading is typically 100% coursework-based, though the exact breakdown may vary by instructor: 

Exams (approx. 70%): Generally consists of two exams (35% each) held during normal lecture times rather than the central exam period. These often include multiple-choice and short-answer logical problem sets.

Homework/Exercises (approx. 30%): Short problem sets assigned throughout the term, often submitted via Moodle.  Study Resources & Tips 

Core Reading: The primary text is often an open-access book, Jonathan Ichikawa’s expanded version of forall x by P.D. Magnus.

Lecture Slides First: Instructors frequently emphasize that lecture slides (on Moodle) are the most critical resource for exams and may use slightly different notation than the textbook.

Self-Study Support: While the course is often self-study, optional tutorials and online discussion forums are usually available for students to ask questions.

Practice: Success in logic relies on practice. You can find unofficial practice materials, such as past midterm and final exam solutions, on student resource platforms like Studocu and Course Hero. 

Are you currently enrolled and looking for specific practice problems, or are you deciding whether to take this course as an elective?  Elementary Logic - Jennifer Nado

Week 1. Sept 2 – Basic logical concepts. Ichikawa ch. 1. Week 2. Sept 9 – Syntax and semantics of SL; translation. Ichikawa ch. 2. Jennifer Nado

4. Assessment Structure (Typical)

Exact percentages vary by instructor, but a representative breakdown:

• Tutorial Participation (15%): Discussion of weekly readings; quality over quantity.
• Short Response Papers (25%): Two 500-word critical analyses of a specific argument (e.g., “Is Camus’ Sisyphus actually happy?”).
• Midterm Take-Home (20%): Short answer and paragraph responses on key concepts.
• Final Essay (40%): 2000–2500 words. Students propose their own answer to “What makes a life meaningful?” using at least two course authors and one outside source (e.g., literature, film, personal experience, but philosophically framed).