LOGIC AND ARGUMENTS

B E    A    L O G I C I A N

L o g i c

Logic (from Greek: logike, possessed of reason, intellectual, dialectical, argumentative) is the systematic study of valid rules of inference. That is the relations that lead to the acceptance of one proposition (the conclusion) on the basis of a set of other propositions (premises). More broadly, logic is the analysis and appraisal of arguments.

Logic comes from the Greek word logos, originally meaning "The word" or "What is spoken", but coming to mean "Thought" or "Reason". In the Western World, logic was first developed by Aristotle, who called the subject "Analytics". Aristotelian logic became widely accepted in science and mathematics and remained in wide use in the West until the early 19th century. Aristotle's system of logic was responsible for the introduction of hypothetical syllogism, temporal modal logic, and inductive logic, as well as influential vocabulary such as terms, predicables, syllogisms and propositions. There was also the rival Stoic logic.

-Aristotle-
(Greek Philosopher)

The scope of logic includes classification of arguments, systematic analysis of logical forms, systematic study of the validity of deductive inferences, strength of inductive inferences, study of faulty arguments, such as fallacies, study of logical paradoxes, study of syntax and semantics of formal languages and study of the concepts of meaning, denotation and truth. 

"Upon this first, and in one sense this sole, rule of reason, that in order to learn you must desire to learn, and in so desiring not be satisfied with what you already incline to capably think, there follows one corollary which itself deserves to be inscribed upon every wall of the city of philosophy: Do not block the way of inquiry."

-Charles Sanders Peirce-

T y p e s   O f   L o g i c

• Syllogistic logic
• Propositional logic
• Predicate logic
• Modal logic
• Informal reasoning and dialectic
• Mathematical logic
• Philosophical logic
• Computational logic
• Non-classical logic

Logic is generally considered formal when it analyzes and represents the form of any valid argument type. The form of an argument is displayed by representing its sentences in the formal grammar and symbolism of a logical language to make its content usable in formal inference. Simply put, to formalize simply means to translate English sentences into the language of logic.

A r g u m e n t s

Arguments are an integral part of our lives. Everything has any logic. In logic and philosophy, an argument is a series of statements (in a natural language), called the premises or premises, intended to determine the degree of truth of another statement, the conclusion. The logical form of an argument in a natural language can be represented in a symbolic formal language, and independently of natural language formally defined "Arguments" can be made in mathematics and computer sciences. 

Argument Terminology

Argument and explanation are distinct forms of reasoning with an underappreciated complementary relationship. Argument is important because it allows people to enhance the quality of the arguments they make and evaluate arguments constructed by others. argument is essentially the study of reasoning or argumentation. We are free to argue about anything. Anything should not be accepted at once. As argumentation theory has moved away from classical logic as a standard, sources have played an increasingly important role in the psychology of argumentation.

There are several kinds of arguments in logic, the best-known of which are "Deductive" and

"Inductive." an argument has one or more premises but only one conclusion. Each premise and the conclusion are truth bearers or "truth-candidates", each capable of being either true or false (but not both). These truth values bear on the terminology used with arguments.

D e d u c t i v e   A r g u m e n t

A deductive argument asserts that the truth of the conclusion is a logical consequence of the premises. Based on the premises, the conclusion follows necessarily (with certainty). For example, given premises that x=y and y=z, then the conclusion follows necessarily that x=z. Deductive arguments are sometimes referred to as "truth- preserving" arguments.

A deductive argument is said to be valid or invalid. If one assumes that the premise is true (regardless of their actual authenticity), the argument is valid if the conclusion can be followed precisely. If no, it is invalid. In determining validity, the structure of the argument is essential to the determination, not the actual truth values. If a deductive argument is valid and its premises are all true, then it is also referred to as sound. It is impossible for the conclusion to be false if all the premises are true.

Deductive arguments may be either valid or invalid.

I n d u c t i v e   A r g u m e n t 

An inductive argument asserts that the truth of the conclusion is supported by the probability of the premises. For example, the left-handed person uses left-handed scissors. Therefore, all left-handed people use left-handed scissors. Arguments that involve predictions are inductive the this is so because all humans are uncertain. An inductive argument is be strong or weak. If the premise of a persuasive argument is assumed to be true, then the argument is strong if the conclusion can also be true. Otherwise, it is weak. A strong argument is said to be cogent if it has all true premises. Otherwise, the argument is uncertain.

"The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it."

-Dale Carnegie-

A r g u m e n t   A n d   e x p l a n a t i o n

Argument and explanation are two different forms of reasoning. Reasoning is just the process of making certain statements, which we call reasons, in support of other statements, which we call conclusions. 

Reason  ----->  Conclusion

Whenever there is a problem with the statements, they support the statements by giving reasons. The difference between two arguments and explanations reflects a difference in the kind of question that arises, and the kind of support that the question requires.

U s e s   O f   A r g u m e n t s

We use arguments to try to think our way through to a considered opinion on an issue. And it help to improve logical thinking of mind. We can get conclusions with lots of facts by arguments. And making and assessing arguments can help us get closer to understanding the truth. At the process helps make us in the know about of our reasons for believing what we believe, and it allow us to use reason when we discuss our beliefs with other people. There are four basic goals in uses of arguments. They are inquiry, Conviction, Persuasion, and Negotiation.

An opportunity to justify oneself

E x a m p l e   F o r   A r g u m e n t

This example is very common argument between me and my parent. Parent: “No, you can’t go the DJ Party on university in night”. Me: “But all my friends are going”. Parent: And if all your friends jumped off a bridge would you do that too? In this case I was arguing that all my friends are going so I want to go. But my argument was refuted by my parents. Therefore I was unable to go to the party.

The main purpose of argument is make conclusion about the arguing fact. There are arguments based on religious, rational and social. It is clear from these facts that we need rationality and that anything can have an argument.

I hope all the facts are clear and understand about the arguments and it will help to improve your knowledge.

-T h a n k  Y o u-

H.N.D. Ashan Sajitha

ashann188@gmail.com