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Introduction to
Logic
Logic is…
• The study of argument
• The study of criteria for distinguishing successful from
unsuccessful arguments and the study of methods for applying
those criteria
• An argument is a set of statements, some of which—the
premises—are supposed to support, or give reasons for, the
remaining statement—the conclusion
• In a successful argument the premises
genuinely support the conclusion
• ‘genuine support’ requires the probable
or guaranteed preservation of truth
from premises to conclusion
• The study of related properties such as
consistency, logical truth, etc.
• The key to a world of wonder
Logic is not…
• Logic is not the study
of persuasion and
manipulative rhetorical
devices
• ‘successful argument’ does not mean persuasive
argument
– Human fallibility and manipulative rhetoric lead people to
• accept poor reasoning
• reject good reasoning
• Remember, in a successful argument if the premises
are true, then the conclusion is either guaranteed to be
true or likely to be true
Why Study Logic?
• Intrinsic value(belonging naturally; essential.
"access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life"
– Enjoyment of learning
– Enjoyment of abstract structures and analytic
elegance
– Enjoyment of puzzles and figuring things out
• Instrumental value
– Improve abstract, critical, and analytic reasoning
– Increase the number of tools in your critical
thinking “toolkit”
– Improve writing, reading, speaking skills
– Become a better thinker/knower
– Become a more independent thinker
– Become the life of the party
Some Definitions:
Statement:
A statement is a declarative sentence; a sentence which attempts to state a
fact—as opposed to a question, command, exclamation, etc.
Argument:
an argument is a (finite) set of statements, some of which—the premises—
are supposed to support, or give reasons for, the remaining statement—the
conclusion
Logic:
Logic is the study of
(i) criteria for distinguishing successful from unsuccessful argument,
(ii) methods for applying those criteria, and
(iii) related properties of statements such as implication, equivalence, logical truth,
consistency, etc.
Truth Value:
The truth value of a statement is just its truth or falsehood; we assume that
every statement has either the truth value true, or the truth value false, but
not both
An Example Argument
• Socrates is mortal, for all humans are mortal,
and Socrates is human
Conclusion Indicators:
therefore, hence, thus, so, we may infer,
consequently, it follows that
Standard Form
Premise 1
Premise 2
All humans are mortal
Premise n Socrates is human
Conclusion Socrates is mortal
Argument Form and Instance
Argument Form and Instance:
An argument form (or schema) is the framework of
an argument which results when certain portions of
the component sentences are replaced by blanks,
schematic letters, or other symbols. An argument
instance is what results when the blanks in a form are
appropriately filled in
Form and Instance
Form: Instances:
All F are G All humans are mortal
x is F Socrates is human
x is G Socrates is mortal
F1 G1
Argument 1B
F1 G1
Argument 1D
F1 G1
Form 1
All F are G
All G are H
All F are H
F2 G1
All premises True At least one premise False
1A 1B
Conclusion True
1C 1D
Conclusion False
F1 G2
Argument 2A
F2 G2
Argument 2B
F2 G2
Argument 2D
F2 G2
Argument 2C
F2 G2
Form 2
Some F are G
Some F are H
Some G are H
F1 G2
All premises True At least one premise False
2A 2B
Conclusion True
2C 2D
Conclusion False
F2 G1
Evaluating Deductive Arguments
Deductive Validity, Invalidity:
An argument (form) is deductively valid iff* it is
NOT possible for ALL the premises to be true AND
the conclusion false, it is deductively invalid iff it is
not valid
Soundness:
An argument is sound iff it is deductively valid AND
all its premises are true
1C 1D
Conclusion False
F1 G2
All premises True At least one premise False
2A 2B
Conclusion True
Invalid Invalid
2C 2D
Conclusion False
Invalid Invalid
(Counterexample to Form 2)
F2 G1
Argument Forms 1 & 2
Form 1 Form 2
Fallacy:
A fallacy is any mistake in
reasoning, but some are
particularly seductive (both
to the speaker/writer and the listener/reader) and so
common that they have earned names. See the text for
details…
Carroll and Tenniel
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson [1832-1898] Sir John Tenniel [1820–1914]
Known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll, English illustrator and
Dodgson was a man of diverse interests—in
mathematics, logic, photography, art, theater, satirical artist, especially known
religion, medicine, and science. He was happiest in for his work in Punch and his
the company of children for whom he created illustrations for Alice's Adventures in
puzzles, clever games, and charming letters. Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-
His book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Glass (1872).
(1865), became an immediate success and has since In his drawings for Punch Tenniel lent
been translated into more than eighty languages. The
equally popular sequel Through the Looking-Glass new dignity to the political cartoon.
and What Alice Found There was published in 1872. Tenniel was knighted in 1893 and retired
The “Alice” books are but one example of his from Punch in 1901. He illustrated many
wide ranging authorship. The Hunting of the Snark, a books; his drawings for Alice's Adventures in
classic nonsense epic (1876) and Euclid and His Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
Modern Rivals, a rare example of humorous work
concerning mathematics, still entice and intrigue
are remarkably subtle and clever and are
today's students. Sylvie and Bruno (1889), published extremely well-suited to Lewis Carroll's text.
toward the end of his life, contains startling ideas These illustrations won him an international
including a description of weightlessness. reputation and a continuing audience.
Adapted from:
http://www.lewiscarroll.org/cld.html Excerpted from:
http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9071700