Last Seminary

Good and Bad Arguments

"In one sense of the term, people argue all of the time. They disagree, they fight, they get mad at one another. In another sense of the term, however, people do not argue nearly enough. Much of what people say when they disagree with each other is simply the repeated assertion that the other person is wrong. They do not always offer reasons for thinking their assertions are true...One of the first things you should look for when examining someone else’s argument is whether you think the premises of the argument are true. If you see some dubious premises, argue against them. False premises, however, are not the only source of weak spots in an argument."

Philosophy & Logic: The Process of Correct Reasoning

"Logic is the art and science of correct reasoning. It includes the analysis, clarification, and evaluation of words, statements, and arguments. The Greek term logos (λογος), which is the root of 'logic,' means 'word.' The ancient Greeks thought of logic as the study of the meanings of words, of the ways in which words can be put together to form meaningful and true statements, and of the ways in which statements can be put together consistently to form sound arguments."