THE 7 MOST OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS OF LOGIC - PHILOSOPHY - 2024

The logic is characterized by the study of the methods and principles used to discern the valid invalid argument.

It should be noted that this discipline is only interested in how it is ideally reasoned and not how each person reasons (the latter is the work of psychology).

Logic simply offers a set of rules that govern reasoning and provides the tools necessary to differentiate between quality arguments and poor arguments.

According to the degree of formality of the arguments, two types of logic are distinguished: the formal and the informal.

Formal logic is characterized by the application of inference to the understanding of certain statements. For its part, informal logic is responsible for studying natural language, which is used by speakers in everyday situations.

On the other hand, logic can also be inductive and deductive. In the first case, the results of the logical process will be acceptable but not conclusive. In the second case, the results will be verifiable and valid.

Main characteristics of logic

1- The logic results are valid or invalid

Logic consists of reasoning to produce arguments. These arguments are evaluated in terms of validity.

This means that from the point of view of logic, there are no right or wrong arguments, but valid or invalid.

2- It can be deductive, inductive, abductive or analog

Logic follows a series of patterns to produce valid reasoning. These patterns are deduction, induction, abduction, and analogy.

Each of three models is applied according to the circumstances of the communicative context.

Deductive logic

Deductive logic is one in which a conclusion is drawn from two premises. Of these two premises, the first represents a universal proposition (because it is general) and the second is a specific statement (because it is particular).

The validity of the results of deductive logic depends on the veracity of the underlying premises. If the premises are invalid, then the conclusion will be too.

The traditional example of this type of logic is as follows:

-All human beings are mortal.

-Aristotle is a human being.

-Then Aristotle is mortal.

Inductive logic

Inductive logic consists of the opposite process of deductive logic. In general terms, this type of logic seeks to extract premises from an already existing conclusion.

That is, this type of logic assumes premises that support an observable conclusion. In this way, the obtained premises may be probable and acceptable but not completely true.

Here is an example of inductive logic:

-Observed conclusion: The puppy sleeps in the house on rainy days.

-Premiss: Every time it rains, the puppy sleeps in the house.

Abductive logic

This type of logic is similar to inductive logic since it seeks to extract premises from a conclusion.

The difference between these two processes is that abduction offers the best possible explanation for the conclusion that is presented. However, the results may be wrong.

For example:

-The lights in my sister's room are on. Then she must be awake.

Analogy

This logical process occurs when relationships of similarity are established between a situation that is being observed and another that is known.

For example: My friend's cat is scratching at the door of the house. When my cat wants to go for a walk, it scratches on the door of my house. Maybe my friend's cat wants to go for a walk.

3- The logic can be formal and informal

Logic is divided into two main branches: formal logic and informal logic.

Formal logic is philosophical and traditional. It is in charge of studying deductive arguments, those in which inference is used to draw conclusions.

For its part, informal logic is in charge of studying the arguments expressed in natural language (everyday and non-specialized).

It focuses on the analysis of the reasoning that can be found in conversations with friends, advertisements, newspaper articles, news, among others.

4- The logical statements do not contradict

Logic is governed by the principle of non-contradiction. It states that two contradictory propositions cannot be valid at the same time. That is, you cannot be and not be simultaneously.

Let us take into account the following propositions:

-The square has four sides.

-The square has five sides.

When two contradictory statements are presented, one must necessarily be invalid. In this case, the second proposition is invalid since it is opposed to mathematical logic.

5- Third party excluded

Logic is characterized by the principle of the excluded third. This principle is based on classical logic, which states that a proposition can only be true or false, without the possibility of the existence of a third option.

This principle is related to that of non-contradiction. While the principle of non-contradiction states that two contradictory propositions cannot be true at the same time, the excluded third party states that both contradictory propositions cannot be false. One must necessarily be true.

6- The validity of the propositions is evaluated taking into account certain modalities

There are various modalities that logic takes into account when deciding whether a proposition is valid or not. These include:

- The temporal difference: some propositions were false in the past but are now true in the present, and vice versa.

- The epistemological difference: in some cases, it is known that the propositions are true or false. In other cases, the propositions are believed to be true or not.

7- Logical statements are units

Logical statements, whether deductive, inductive, abductive, or analog, represent a unit. Therefore, they cannot be divided.

This characteristic is defended by propositional logic. This branch of logic establishes that dividing the simple sentences, those that are formed by two premises and a conclusion, would be a mistake since it would make the proposition meaningless.

References

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