Logic is the skill that enables humans to think clearly,
accurately, and rigorously and so to draw only the inferences that
the evidence warrants. Some people, like scientists, engineers,
mathematicians, and computer programmers, get plenty of on-the-job
practice in thinking logically. The rest of us generally don't.
In this accessible, concise yet comprehensive introduction to a
sometimes-formidable subject, philosopher Keith Parsons presents
elementary topics in logic for people who have little background in
mathematics or science and have no career goals in those fields.
Parsons presupposes no specialized background and strives to
introduce even abstract concepts in an intuitive and unintimidating
way. His informal, conversational style leads the reader
painlessly, even entertainingly, through three essential areas of
logic.
The first part of the book deals with sentential and predicate
logic, as well as inductive and scientific reasoning, including
inference to the best explanation. The second part explains basic
probability, Bayes' Theorem, and why thinking about probability is
so prone to error and illusion. The third part considers informal
reasoning and critical thinking, including such topics as rhetoric,
fallacies, political spin, and the detection of pseudoscience and
pseudohistory.
Why be logical? Even if you're a poet, an artist, or just a free
spirit, logic can help you determine the facts behind the political
propaganda, religious claims, advertising, and sales talk that we
are all subjected to. As a logically literate person, you will be a
better-informed citizen, wiser consumer, and a clearer thinker.
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