Logic--different question than the other thread

[Karin]

I've read the other thread about the two logic programs, that one is modern and one is classical, etc. But I would like to know what Christian slants they have (I realize one has a stronger slant.) eg, protestant, Catholic. Personally I think logic is older than the Greek philosophers, but that's a separate point. Are these really the only two choices, other than Charon's approach? I ask because I don't have the math degrees he does so won't pursue all that he and Myrtle are doing in that area. I think Logic is a large area, and that it's just as wrong to say that math is not Logic as to think that math is all Logic (not that anyone has said the latter like that, but that one author didn't think math was logic).

I'm asking because after temporarily deciding to use Henle Latin I found out (no one answered my question on this--guess I asked too many questions in one post!!!) that it's strongly Catholic, which will be a stumbling block for my dd as she's still learning to respect other beliefs (she's fairly black and white in some areas still).

[Karin]

Bumping.

[Michelle in MO]

Introductory Logic slants more towards Protestantism, whereas I feel that Traditional Logic is actually pretty even-handed. I didn't do every chapter with my oldest, particularly of TL II, which seems to cover more of the philosophers (I actually really enjoyed that). I don't remember any particular "slant", except for a discussion at the end about whether or not Mary was the mother of God (which, in my opinion, she was chosen by God to bear the Christ, whether or not you're Protestant or Catholic).

Does this help in any way? I'm certainly no logic expert, though! I do want you to be able to get answers to your questions, however.

[mcconnellboys]

I found the tone of Intro Logic decidedly more Protestant-centric and irritating than the tone of Traditional Logic. (I am Protestant, by the way.) My son really just took it all in stride and didn't have that much of a problem with it.

He did Intro Logic in sixth grade. He did Traditional I in seventh grade and found it a little more challenging. He really had trouble with Traditional II in eighth grade and I bought the CD's, in the hope that they would help him understand the programming better (since I had no experience in the area of logic). Unfortunately, the CD's weren't much help.....

In retrospect, the two programs deal with different areas of logic and so you can do both. I would do Intro at a younger age, as it's simpler to comprehend than Traditional. I would hold off on Traditional Logic until high school.

I plan to begin informal logic with my younger son first, going through Thinking Toolbox and Fallacy Detective, before tackling any formal logic program. And I will probably do Intro Logic in upper junior high, saving Traditional Logic until high school (unless better programming is out by then).

[Tina in Ouray]

Karin,

Here's a link to a post I wrote on the old boards that answered a question about the religious content in Traditional Logic. I hope it helps you make a wise choice for your family.

http://wtmboards.com/HSboardMar112007/messages/2282.html

Logic is older than the Greek philosophers. It's just that those old Greeks were the first ones to systematize it or to even to write it down. At least they are the first ones that we have record of.

"Logic" does encompass a lot of different ways of thinking. Aristotelian (traditional) logic covers the formal structure of deductive arguments in syllogistic form. Modern symbolic logic usually first treats truth-functional logic and quantificational logic. There are other important forms of reasoning and arguments that you will want to introduce your student(s) to as well; e.g., inductive reasoning, analogical reasoning, etc.

But first things first. Traditional Logic is a good place to begin.

Tina in Ouray, CO

[Karin]

Thanks, all. Tina in Ouray, I'm glad to "see" you here. You helped me once before, but I hadn't thought of religious slants until I started looking into Latin programs.