To study Logic prior to college or outside of a Philosophy program is rare, indeed. Why do it? Studying logic bears great fruit for the student - young and old alike. With Logic, we are concerned with developing our own critical thinking and sound reasoning skills. Every age has its marketing manipulators promising happiness - if only we bought their product. Can we recognize their fallacies (errors in reasoning) that unwittingly trap us? Or, more positively, how can we learn to reason soundly and express ourselves clearly so that others are compelled to find our position just as convincing?
There are two basic branches of logic: informal, inductive logic, and formal, deductive logic. Both work together to great effect. Informal Logic is concerned with learning to think well, develop strong, cogent arguments, bolstered with evidence to support one's claim. Formal Logic is concerned with developing valid arguments - that is to say, arguments that are structured accurately and that reveal the inherent truth of the argument. With both branches, we consider how to both develop our own arguments, while also recognize the errors in the arguments of others.
There are two basic branches of logic: informal, inductive logic, and formal, deductive logic. Both work together to great effect. Informal Logic is concerned with learning to think well, develop strong, cogent arguments, bolstered with evidence to support one's claim. Formal Logic is concerned with developing valid arguments - that is to say, arguments that are structured accurately and that reveal the inherent truth of the argument. With both branches, we consider how to both develop our own arguments, while also recognize the errors in the arguments of others.
