Why Logic?

Why should college students bother to take a course in logic? Is there any good reason other than to support your friendly neighborhood logic instructor? As I mention in my logic and critical thinking classes, logic is a tool for clarifying our thought – nothing more, nothing less. To put it bluntly, if you desire to be a clear thinker then you will want to study logic. Of course, at least ideally, almost every class you take in college will help you to think critically and carefully. No teacher of logic should deny that. Your class in logic is merely one amongst many others that can help you become a clearer thinker. And so both instructors and students of logic need to understand that formal study of logic is but one small – though still significant – part of a complete college education.

Even though logic is only one part of an overall curriculum designed to make us clearer thinkers, there are topics covered in logic that are usually not addressed in other classes. Certainly one of these topics is the area of the informal fallacies. These are the common mistakes in reasoning made everyday – by the man on the street, talk show participants, editorial writers, etc. By familiarizing ourselves with these common mistakes we are better equipped to fend them off when others commit them. We are also better aware so that we do not fall into them ourselves! Another subject that is usual fare for a course in logic is the topic of emotive language. It seems clear that emotions can cloud reasoning. Thus, when it is our goal to think clearly and carefully about important issues, we should strive to maintain language that is as emotively neutral as possible. The study of logic sensitizes us to these ideas and offers practice in employing emotively neutral language.

With the issues that face Americans today it is imperative that good, clear, critical thinkers have their voices heard. We cannot stand by and allow those who would employ deceptive rhetoric and other forms of non-rational persuasion to dominate the public agenda and debate. The study of logic gives us an invaluable tool with which to challenge these affronts to rational discussion and decision-making. Let’s try employing a little logic in order to make this world a more reasonable place in which to live!

If you have any comments about this piece, please feel free to contact me at ronbutzu@hotmail.com!