>>>> [djh] >>>> However; logic isn't common sense. Logic is its own distinct intellectual >>>> thing which follows its own rules regardless of the fact that it is built >>>> out of the mythos. Furthermore, it's not a question of formal logic vs >>>> common sense. You've done a philosophical logic 101 class. >>>> Even casual conversations include their own logic with their own premises >>>> and conclusions. >>> >>> I have had courses in both formal logic and critical thinking. I don't >>> recognize either in your statement. Most of what people consider logic is >>> built backwards, rather than built on sound premises. It's more likely >>> conclusions justified by whatever seems to work. >> >> [djh] >> Of course that's how it works. But does that mean that logic doesn't exist >> or isn't valuable? That's how most of us reason, it's only on reflection >> when we look back can we see the logic to our words. The logic is formed by >> the value of them. But again, does that mean that logic doesn't exist or >> isn't valuable? As the Hail example demonstrated logic is a great way for >> us to talk to one another about experiences we may not have had and as a >> result - quality which we cannot necessarily see but still exists >> nonetheless. Don't you agree? > > What I think important is removing the possibility of grasping false beliefs > too tightly. And mistaking everyday communication for logic can be just such > an example. But yes, of course, it's all value. Man the rational animal is > more like man who can't ask for directions.
[djh] There's a difference between thinking that logic can help to govern our everyday thoughts and thinking that logic exclusively governs our everyday thoughts. As the Hail example showed - logic can help to show us things which we may not have experienced directly but are still valuable. There's nothing wrong with rationality so long as it is not *exclusively* put in charge of the whole process. A rational man who refuses to ask for directions is one such an example of someone who places rationality above all else. But there are also times when it's good to explore the rationality and logic of an idea. Like say, on a philosophical discussion board. > By the way, I had the logic class at UCONN (Go Huskies!!!); it was titled > Symbolic Logic, and it was a 200-level course. It was the same class taken > by graduate students, but they were given addition problems on their final > exam. And while it may not have turned me into a Master Logician, I did very > well in the class and it certainly made its impression on me. Because I was > working at the time, and it was a class never given in the evening, I > arranged (begged) to take half-day vacation time to attend the class. I also > gave up a vacation to Spain that year for that particular class. [djh] What sort of impression did it leave on you? Do you think logic is any good? If so, when's it good and when isn't it any good? Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org/md/archives.html
