A Brief Introduction to Logic

A Brief Guide to Logic, Reason, and Good Writing

One gloriously beautiful day in May, I cheered four student interns as they received their hard-earned diplomas. A day or so later, I conducted another of my weekly classes at a large men’s prison.  As I reflected upon the two events, I realized both the students and the inmates had “thought their way” to their destinations. Allow me to explain.  Earning a college degree requires hard work and step by step planning. Each of my four student interns had “thought” his or her way to the graduation ceremony.  And as I surveyed the rows of inmates gathered for my class, I understood that each of these men had “thought” their way to prison.  Quite simply, good thinking leads to good results, and bad thinking leads to bad results.

In my career serving addicts, alcoholics, and convicted felons, I have met scores of women and men whose careless brand of thinking led them to homeless shelters, hospital wards, prison cells, and cemetery plots.  Conversely, I have met others whose lives were fulfilled and satisfying because their decisions were based on logic, reason, and wisdom. These judicious thinkers were not governed by raw emotion, foolhardy schemes, dares, or spur of the moment whims; critical thinkers are those who think about their thinking for the purpose of improving their thinking. Better thinking leads to better decision-making. Better decision-making leads to better outcomes.  Better outcomes lead to better living.

While teaching inmates, I developed a program called Critical Thinking Skills for Life. Rather than teaching inmates what to think, I taught my students how to think.  Indoctrination is an attempt at forcing a particular set of beliefs upon others.  We find this undesirable attribute among many proponents of political correctness and cult leaders.  Bullying, shaming, and name-calling, tools of indoctrination, are thought-control weapons used in making others conform to a prescribed way of thinking.  Quite the opposite, critical thinkers consider the facts, weigh the evidence, and make up their own minds.  Empty slogans and runaway emotionalism that appeal to simple minds are powerless in swaying critical thinkers.  My goal as a teacher was to introduce the elements of critical thinking to the addicts, alcoholics, and felons attending my classes.

Frankly, I have little use for heavy-handed purveyors of indoctrination and take great personal satisfaction in knocking and mocking their verbal clubs and brass knuckles. I refuse to check my brain in at the gate.

Writers write to entertain, tell a story, inform, and persuade. Using words, writers seek to teach and enlighten.  Regrettably, there are writers who harbor no more honesty than an oily used car salesman.  With little regard for truth, they play upon their readers’ ignorance, yet these cunning writers are seldom held accountable for the cleverly manufactured arguments that veil the principles of logic from dull, unseeing eyes. 

If I am to make you a better writer, my conscience demands that I show you the way to truth, logic, and credibility.  My teaching efforts will serve dual purposes; by relying on logic, reason, and verifiable evidence, your opponents and, in some cases, your classroom teachers will be unable to shipwreck your ideas.  Your words will stand on the bedrock of truth.  Additionally, as you discover the keys to critical thinking, you will not be deceived by empty rhetoric, half-truths, and frothing, wild-eyed fanatics bent on indoctrination. 

Truth invites inquiry.  Truth never runs from the light of scrutiny.  Truth never dodges tough questioning.  The same cannot be said about political correctness and other forms of thought-policing.  Proponents of indoctrination use slander, name-calling, shaming, and empty rhetoric to gain footholds in the minds of careless thinkers.  There is never an occasion to cower to the self-appointed thought-police for those who understand the basics of logic and elect to deal in truth.

False Cause Fallacy    The false cause fallacy is a belief that an isolated cause necessarily produces another cause.  The following are examples of false cause fallacies:

·         After a hard rain, I see earthworms wriggling and squirming on sidewalks.  Earthworms must live in rainclouds.

·         My cousin, who is a vegetarian, suffers from asthma.  A diet without meat results in breathing difficulties.  I eat meat seven days a week and my breathing is fine.

Slippery Slope Fallacy     The slippery slope fallacy is a belief that by allowing one event to occur, dire consequences of a worse nature will unavoidably follow.  There are, of course, numerous instances when worst-case scenario slippery slope fears have come true.  The fallacy is a belief that certain dire results must unavoidably follow.

·         If biological male who identify as women are permitted to compete against biological female athletes, women’s sports will be ruined.  (Hold on—this is already happening.  Women’s sports have become a farse, therefore, we may conclude some slippery predictions do come true.)  

·         If you join the basketball team, you will have no time to spend with me.

·         If you’ll change your mind and let me take you to the dance, you’ll discover what a charming person I am, fall in love with me, beg me to marry you, and live happily ever after with me.

Tu Quoque Fallacy     The tu quoque fallacy, pronounced tu-kwo-kwee, is a diversionary tactic that seeks to avoid the answering of a legitimate criticism by hurling an unrelated criticism back at the accuser. 

·         Ms. Landers said my project lacked creativity and imagination.  Okay, maybe I rushed through the project, but how can she criticize my work when she needs to lose about fifty pounds?

·         Stop complaining about my driving!  Does your girlfriend know that you have been flirting with Jillian?

By the by, tu quoque is Latin for “And you, too!”

False Dilemma Fallacy   Also known as the “either-or” fallacy, a false dilemma is a logical fallacy that assumes only two conclusions exist when other conclusions, solutions, or answers may well be considered. A false dilemma ignores reason by insisting on an “either/or” conclusion.   Consider the following example:

·         Father Murphy does not own a copy of the Quran. This proves Father Murphy is a bigoted xenophobic who hates Muslims.    

It is possible to disagree with another’s beliefs, lifestyle, or personal choices without harboring hatred toward the individual.  Consider this:

·         Are those pepperoni slices on your pizza?  Pepperoni is meat. Why do you hate animals? Why are you in favor of treating animals cruelly?

Assumptions     An assumption is an untested or unproven belief that is accepted as true and reliable.  Any idea, opinion, principle, or position that we hold that has not been carefully questioned, examined, tested, and judged is an assumption. Not all assumptions are wrong, of course, but there are inherent risks in making decisions based upon beliefs that have not been carefully examined. Critical thinkers are those intellectually humble individuals who place their presupposed ideas—beliefs that are often taken for granted—under the microscope of examination and scrutiny.

Everyone makes assumptions, but those who make careless assumptions do so at their peril:

·         Oops—better call Triple A! I assumed there was enough gasoline in the tank to get us to Kansas City.

·         I am sorry that you had a miserable time. I assumed you would enjoy meeting my cousin.

·         I apologize for arriving late.  I assumed that downtown traffic would be light during this time of day.

·         Buying this car was a mistake.  I assumed the cost of maintenance and upkeep would be less than it is.

Some assumptions are only partially true.  As an example, water is used to extinguish fire, but using water to extinguish an electrical fire can prove fatally disastrous. Assuming that water is a safe and effective retardant in all fire-related emergencies is a reckless assumption. 

There are many other forms of logical fallacies that will be covered in future sessions; for now, challenge yourself to examine your opinions before putting them down on paper. Good ideas can stand up to examination. As a writer, you are to promote ideas and influence others with truth.  There are disingenuous writers who have more regard for personal ideology than truth, but their words will stand only until a disciplined thinker comes along to dismantle their flimsy arguments.