Q: Utilizing Formal Logic lessons

[Kathie in VA]

There was a post on the K-8 Curr. board recently that asked whether it was worth it to study Formal Logic. See post:

The discussions basically led to an agreement that it is very useful. We've been able to point out how it is used in Geometry and many seem to agree that it is used elsewhere although not deliberately. I remember taking formal logic back in college; we used it later when we learned how to program computers. So in addition to geometry I'd say it's clearly used to write computer programs. I think the Classical Writing program will also make use of Formal Logic skills in their later books. I haven't gotten my oldest into debate yet but I'm guessing these skills will be helpful there(I think).

I was wondering if anyone here knew of other ways to review and/or specifically make use of any skills learned from Formal Logic lessons. I thought it might be helpful in dialectic and/or rhetoric history/literature studies but I have no idea how to do this or if there is already a program out there to lead me through....

tia

[Charon]

There was a post on the K-8 Curr. board recently that asked whether it was worth it to study Formal Logic. See post:

The discussions basically led to an agreement that it is very useful. We've been able to point out how it is used in Geometry and many seem to agree that it is used elsewhere although not deliberately. I remember taking formal logic back in college; we used it later when we learned how to program computers. So in addition to geometry I'd say it's clearly used to write computer programs. I think the Classical Writing program will also make use of Formal Logic skills in their later books. I haven't gotten my oldest into debate yet but I'm guessing these skills will be helpful there(I think).

I was wondering if anyone here knew of other ways to review and/or specifically make use of any skills learned from Formal Logic lessons. I thought it might be helpful in dialectic and/or rhetoric history/literature studies but I have no idea how to do this or if there is already a program out there to lead me through....

tia


All of mathematics is one big exercise in formal logic. The example I gave in the other thread of such a statement was actually the definition of a limit. All of calculus is based on that. All of the mathematics of physics and engineering, if done correctly, is done by manipulating such statements. In fact, that hippy, New Math set theory stuff (closely related to mathematical logic) is the first thing you cover in abstract algebra, for instance, which has big and very direct applications to physics (and so engineering), computer science, math.... Brownian motion is a physical phenomenon the mathematics of which is used to price options in financial economics. Rigorous calculus is easy compared to something like probability theory which at least requires rigorous calculus if not the more general version of that using measure theory. Of course, all that probability theory forms the basis for doing the kind of statistical and financial analysis that actuaries do for insurance companies. All of this has to be done by some one the right way by formally manipulating complicated quantified logical statements.

The rest of us only think we can get away with not having to do that -- with just knowing the theorems and how to apply them. And, mostly because we simply all agree to do that, it works out socially for us. You can, indeed, not study one lick of measure-theoretic probability or the convoluted abstract algebraic methods of solving combinatorial problems imminently important to your filed or what have you and just run off and start programming or analyzing claims data or pricing options or building bridges or spouting off a bunch of your own bull**** speculation about "how the world works". You can get away with that. Indeed, you probably have to do it that way since if you spend all your time trying to actually know what you're talking about, there won't be enough time left for you to master analyzing the shadows on the wall. And then, you will just make an unmitigated ass out of yourself in front of everyone else who doesn't really know what the hell you're talking about, anyway.

[Cedarmom]

One of the assignments in our logic text is to find and analyze arguments in the editorial section of the newspaper. My son is also in debate, where he frequently uses logic. Also, when we see an argument in a book we may discuss how logical it is.
One of the main purposes of my teaching logic was to give my son the ability to analyze the truth of an argument that he hears. I think the study of logic is an excellent way to learn the skill of knowing how to sort through all the information we receive in order to discern the facts.
Cedarmom