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DEFINITION OF LOGIC
The terms logic is derived from the Greek word "logos", which
means reason or expression of reason in words that is discourse.
Etymologically. therefore, Logic is the science of reasoning or
argument According to Dewey and Stebbing, reasoning or
reflective thinking is a process of finding way out of some
difficulty or problem by weighing the evidence on the basis of a
tentive hypothesis and thereby reaching some conclusion. The
reasoning can be either deductive or inductive. In the deductive
reasoning we argue from a general principle to a particular
conclusion. For example if we say that since all men are mortal,
and X who is a man is mortal. But if we argue that since X, Y,
Z, who are men are subject to death, every man must be subject
to death, we are arguing inductive In logic we study the general
principles governing both type of reasoning. Accordingly, we may
define Logic as the science of taws of thought and reason.
J.S.MiII:-
"Logic is the science of operations of understanding which are
subsequent to the estimation of evidence of both the process
itself of advancing from known truth to unknown and all other
intellectual operations in so far as ancillary to this." The
definition by Mill brings out the main characteristics of logic,
namely ( i ) logic helps in evaluating the evidence in order to
arrive at a proof; (ii) logic helps to discover unknown facts on
the basis of known and (iii) logic deals with all intellectual
processes pertaining to deduction and induction.
SCOPE AND SUBJECT MATTER OF LOGIC
The definition of logic given by Mill clearly indicates the
scope of logic. According to Mill, "logic is the science of the
operations of the understanding which are subsequent to the
estimation of evidence, both the process itself of advancing
from known truth to unknown and all other intellectual
operations in so far as ancillary to this". This definition
brings our following facts:
(1) That logic studies various intellectual processes such as
thinking, reasoning and judgment.
(2) That logic studies processes necessary for evaluating
evidence.
(3) That logic studies how to move from known to the unknown.
This can be done in two ways: by moving from general to
particular, as in the example "All men are rational, Ram is a
man, therefore, Ram is rational", or by moving from particular
instances to a general conclusion as in "Apples, bananas,
mangoes etc. fall to ground because they are heavy and,
therefore, all heavy things must fall to the ground". The first
example illustrates the deductive reasoning while the second
illustrates inductive reasoning, and both are within the scope
of logic.
(4) That logic studies all intellectual processes involved in
deduction and induction.
(a) In deduction we study laws of thought, viz., law of
identity, law of non- contradiction and law of exclused middle.
We also study the different types
of terms. We also study genus differential and accidental
properties of terms. We also study formal rules of deduction,
the immediate and mediate inferences. And, finally we study
various fallacies in argumentation.
(b) In induction we study the difference between form and
matter, the nature of definition, hypothesis, evidence,
experimental techniques, probability etc.
We also study rules of classification, taxonomy (giving new
names) etc. Finally, we study the fallacies incidental to
inductive reasoning.
IMPORTANCE OF LOGIC
Though it is true that the knowledge of rules of logic is no
guarantee against false reasoning, this is no serious objection
against logic. The worth of any science is to be judged not by
its actual practice but by the nature of facts it is about. For
instance, the science of medicine is not to be condemned as some
doctors fail to diagnose diseases properly. The study of logic
cannot ensure that logicians will never^make in argument; but
the chance of making mistake is certainly much less in their
case.
LOGIC AND
PSYCHOLOGY
Though there
exists a close and strong relation between Logic and Psychology,
the two are quite distinct and it is not possible to reduce one
to the other or treat logic as a branch of psychology, which
primarily deals with thinking and judgment. Again, it will be
equally false to assert that since all arguments are decidable
by logic principles, psychology is nothing but the logic "of
mental process.
A general confusion about the relation of logic and psychology
stems from the fact that traditionally logic is defined to be a
science of laws of thought but now it is generally accepted that
any investigation into the laws or ways in which we actually
think belongs to psychology. Logic has little concern as to
how^one thinks and arrives at conclusions, -It is only concerned
with whether two propositions imply each other and what can be
the valid inference, To illustrate: it may not be possible for
someone to conceive the existence of mermaids. But irrespective
of the fact whether we are able to imagine mermaids or not,
logically it is valid to assert, that if there are mermaids then
they are females with human head and the body of a fish.
It has been aptly observed by Cohen and Nagel that it is very
important to distinguish between logic and psychology if we are
to avoid the confusion of logic with certain allied subject
which though occurring along with logic are nevertheless very
different. The realization that logic cannot be restricted to
psychological phenomena, therefore, will help us to discriminate
between logic and rhetoric. The rhetoric is an art of
persuasion. While it is true that if a ailed argument is put
effectively by employing words like 'indubitably', beyond a
shadow of doubt', 'clear as day which do not militate against
them no amount of rhetoric can transform an invalid argument
into valid. This does not mean that rhetoric is useless. It
helps harmonious social relation. But it must be realized that
the validity of an argument is quite independent of what goes in
our head or how we put it forward. The validity in short is
extra human. Therefore, psychology has to bearing upon the
essential subject matter of logic, However, psychology does have
an important role. It helps us appreciate how the social and
personal prejudices block effective argument and also that
personal or subjective assurance is no guarantee about the
validity of an argument. As Nagel says, "The history of human
error shows that the assertion 'I am absolutely certain' or 'I
cannot help believing" in regard to any proposition is no
adequate evidence of its truth."
LOGIC AND
PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy is the
philosophical process, which deals with certain specific
problems from the philosophical viewpoint with the help of
philosophical methods and arrives at certain philosophical
conclusion. This definition of philosophy, abstract though it
is, shows the distinction between philosophy and science.
Science is a systematic study of a limited field of experience.
Thus philosophy and a science differ in connection with methods,
problems, viewpoints and conclusions. The most important
branches of philosophy are metaphysics, epistemology and
axiology of those logic comes within the fields of axioloav.'
Axiology is the study of values. These values are generally of
three kinds - truth, good and beauty. While ethics studies good.
aesthetics studies beauty. Logic studies truth. It is the
science which discriminates between true and untrue among the
oppositions It is the method of arriving at the implication or
meaning of propositions- It is the science of the value of
truth. Thus logic is a branch of philosophy. Its knowledge is
absolutely necessary for a philosopher, though it cannot be said
that the logician equally necessarily requires the knowledge of
philosophy.
Philosophy depends upon logic, though in its turn logic does not
depend upon philosophy.
Phylosophical and Logical method
Logic and philosophy are most intimately related in the
field of methods. The two most important methods of
philosophical thinking are induction and deduction - the two
branches of logic. It is here that philosophy and logic are
intimately related since the former depends upon the later.
Logic is concerned with the laws of induction and deduction,
their merits and demerits and the fallacies to their wrong use.
In the absence of logic, the methods of analysis and synthesis
cannot be properly used in philosophy. It is hence that Logical
Positivism one of the most important contemporary school of
philosophy, has considered logical analysis as the chief method
of philosophical thinking. This has been admitted by most of the
contemporary philosophers. It has been accepted that
philosophizing is impossible in the absence of a sound knowledge
of logic.
Value of Logic in Philosophy
Thus the relationship or logic with philosophy the same as
its relation with science, Every science requires logic for the
proper presentation of scientific theory and cultivation of
induction and deduction. In the absence of the knowledge of
logic proper thinking in the field of philosophy is not
possible. Neither can a philosopher arrive at logical
conclusions.
Need of Philosophy in Logic
Logic discovers the laws of thought. It is on the basis of
these laws that correct thinking is possible. Each science is
based upon certain fundamental postulates. For example the law
of causation is a postulate in physics. Similarly in logic the
fundamental laws of though such as law of non-contradiction, law
of identity and law of excluded middle or the law of sufficient
cause are postulates, they are not proved but accepted. Logic
does not example the truth of, these laws of thought. However
this is precisely the function of philosophy. Philosophy
examines the fundamental postulates of logic as all other
positive and normative sciences. Thus philosophy provides the
foundation to logic, therefore, depends upon philosophy.
Thus philosophy and Logic are closely related. According to
logical positives, the function of philosophy is to examine the
fundamental postulates of all the science and to show as to how
far they are valid. It is so since science is limited to the
field of facts while critical evaluation is the function of
philosophy. This again is the function of philosophy in the
fields of logic.
FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF THOUGHT
"Logic has often
been defined as the study of 'Laws of thought' and in particular
three principles:-
(1) The principle of identity.
(2) The principle of contradiction.
(3) The principle of excluded middle.
Besides the above-mentioned three laws, Leibnitz considers Law
of sufficient Reason, an additional law.
LAW OF IDENTITY
I. According to this law, if anything is A it is A, or if
any proposition is true. In accordance with this we know that in
a deductive argument, the meaning of the terms must remain same
throughout. For example if we say that since books are meant to
be read, the books in a bank must be read, we violate the law of
in the usual sense. Heraclitus and Buddhists deny the validity
of this law, because, according to them nothing remain same at
any two moments.
But this criticism is invalid because there is fundamental
difference in the realm of things and the realm of thinking. For
instance though we cannot step into the same river again, this
assertion itself is either true or false and if true it is true
now as it was true when Heraclitus Asserted it. Therefore ideas
and natural objects are not subject to same laws.
Meaning of the Law of Identity
The law of identity can be expressed as follows"-
(1) What is. is - It has been pointed out by the author of
Bhagwadgita, that whatever exists cannot be non-existent and
whatever is non-existent cannot exist. In other words what is,
is and what is not, is not.
(2) Each object is equal to itself - Every thing is identical.
Each object should be taken as it is. For example a kilogram is
a kilogram and a pound is a pound. If we do not stick to their
fixed meaning and take each to be identical with itself, we
cannot use them for the purpose of thinking.
(3) A thing is what is - The nature of a thing has some
fundamental elements, which show its basic properties and
functions. For example, if it is said that a man, it may be
tautology and yet one means by it that the human nature is like
human nature and different form the nature of a thing, animal or
God.
(4) Everything is according to itself - Leibnitz has pointed out
to a law of identity of indiscernible in his monadotogy. This
means that each monad represents only itself and no one else
since each monads windowless and develops from within.
Thus in nature one finds different levels of things and living
beings. No two things are identical. This is know/n as the law
of identity of indiscernibles. In order words, every things is
according to itself. Had there been two things of the same
nature it would have been better to call them one rather than
to. There can be no dualiam without distinction. If there is no
distinction between two things they are one. Thus the analogy of
a thing is only itself. A lion is a lion and different from all
other animals. The only analogy of man is man.
(5) Truth is coherent- Every principle must be explained in
consistency with is basic postulate since truth lies in
coherence. While examining a philosophical thought it should not
be compared with other philosophical thinking since the two are
different. In order to examine the truth of a philosophy we have
to enquire about its self-consistency. The logical implication
of its basic postulate should be the same form the beginning to
the end. Otherwise, it is far from consistent. It may be noted
here that in that in the field of nature the above-mentioned
however law may have certain exceptions. In the realm of
thinking however, no such exception is possible.
Value of the Law of Identity
The law of identity does not mean that nothing is chargeable
but it insists upon a uniformity and continuity in this change
which is responsible for the identity of the object.
Every thing is this world is changeable. But while we think
about an object we take it as something is not identical. If a
thing is constantly changed, thought upon this thing is not
possible,. This may lead to the dilemma that thought is not
actually applicable to the changing nature, but in the realm of
thought thinking is not possible without acceptance of the law
of identity.
Again nothing can be defined without taking recourse to the law
of identity. A thing is defined in terms of its properties and
nature. Thus, though we may admit with the philosophers like
F.H.Bradlley and Henry Bergson that the physical world is the
result of the thought and the world of thought does represent
the actual world, it must be admitted that philosophies were
not also possible without abstraction. Intact the world of
thought should be considered as distinct from the world of
things through the two are interrelated. It is them that we will
be able to understand that just as the world of physical things
follows the law of nature, similarly the world of thought
follows the taw of thought.
LAW OF NON
CONTRADICTION
The law of Contradiction has been expressed as A cannot be B
and not B at the same time. In other works, a thing cannot both
exist and non-exist at the same time. If you say that Ram is in
the house, it cannot be said that the is out of the house. One
cannot assert that Ram is both in the house and out of it unless
the words, in and out are taken in some special sence. If it
means physical existence with in. the same physical existence
without is not possible.
Hamilton has called the law of contradiction as the law of
non-contradiction. According to him correct thinking is
non-contradicted. For example, a thing cannot be white and non
white. If a thing exists it cannot be said to be non-existence.
In other words either A is B however not-B at the time. Nothing
can have contradictory qualities in the same space-time. It is
possible that a shield is white on one side and non-white on the
other side, but it cannot be white and non-white on the same
side. The law of contradiction can be better called the law of
non-contradiction since it shows that non-contradiction is a
necessary condition for correct thinking. It may be remembered
here that though one may find contradictory things in nature,
the same is not possible in the world of thought.
Coherence,though no virtue of the physical world, is certainly a
condition for human thinking.
LAW OF EXCLUDED MIDDLE
According to this law anything must be either true or false,
i.e. A or not A. For example, a piece of the toffee can either
be sweet or not sweet. According to Jeyons, "The very name of
the taw expresses the fact that (here is no third or middle
course". Though in a way these laws of thought are related to
each other because what law of non-contradiction states is
implied in law of identity. But, we cannot by any means derive
from 'A is A" and 'A is not A". For example to say that sun will
not rise tomorrow. The truth of a proposition dies imply the
falsehood of its opposite, but to bring out this implication we
need another statement which is independent. Hegel's criticism
of the law of non contradiction we need another statement is
metaphysical and not logical. Since the prepositions of logic
are independent of space and time they are formal in nature,
they cannot be regarded to behave in the same manner as facts.
Warm water may feel both not and cold, because what we mean is
that warm is cool in relation to hot and hot in relation to
cold. This will require two propositions. Therefore a
proposition of logic can not have contradictory or contrary
predicates.
LAW OF SUFFICIENT REASON
It has been pointed out by Leibniz that if there is no
sufficient reason for a thing or statement to be what is and not
to be different from it, then its actual existence cannot be
real. Thus everything in the world has a sufficient reason of
its existence. According to leibniz the law of sufficient reason
is applicable both in the field of metaphysics as well as of
logic. In metaphysics there should be some sufficient reason for
each for the innumerable things found in the world. God is the
cause of the world and each instance in the world has its
sufficient cause. In logic every Judgment has some or the other
basis, without which it cannot be logical. Thus different
judgments have different basis. Even where there is change, it
has a sufficient reason.
The law of sufficient reason is complimentary to the law of
identity. According to the law of identity. According to the law
of identity the date should remain unchanged. The law of
sufficient reason, on he other hand, points out that a thing is
as it is. The law of sufficient reason, points out that a thing
can change only when there is a sufficient reason for the
change. In the absence of such a sufficient reason no change is
possible. In other words, other things being the same a thing
remains as it is- As the law of sufficient reason is
complimentary to the law of identity, some scholars do not lake
it part from the taw of identity and consider it as a part of
it.
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