¶ … logical errors one may make as discussed in Part Five of the book (1200-1500 words). Include in this paper precise definitions and your own example of the following logical errors: undistributed middle, begging the question, straw man, abusing tradition, democratic fallacy, ad hominem, uses and abuses of expertise, red herring, inability to disprove does not prove, false dilemma, and simplistic thinking,
The book Being Logical: A guide to Good Thinking (Random House, New York, 2004, pp.131) was authored by D. Q McInerny, a professor of logic to student s at Notre Dame, the University of Kentucky, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary. The author has written three previous textbooks on philosophy. This is his first book on logic, but as he writes, logic undergirds all thinking and goes to the core of what we mean by human intelligence.
Logic is the basis of all human thinking. It can be seen as science, art, and skill and goes to the very core of our abruptly to think, analyze, debate, and communicate. Written explicitly for the layman, McInerny shows that logic is a field that has profound bearing on our lives. McInerny has managed to make that field remarkably profound and lucid to the extent that the jacket pocket compares "Being Logical" to Strunck and White's Elements of Style.
A mastery of logic begins with an understanding of right reasoning. It involves a connection between the relationship between logical thought and logical expression, as well as knowledge of the basic terms of argument, and a familiarity with the pitfalls of illogical thinking. To that end, McInerny consequently structures his book as a series of brief chapters that build one on the other to provide a clear introduction to coherent reasoning.
The basic premise of the book is illustration of the characteristics of an argument - how an argument is created and elaborated upon. McInerny also shows how the argument differs from other forms of intellectual discourse, and how the argument contains the elements of logic. Many find logic, per subject, complex and in its mathematical subtleties. McInerny simplifies these complexities of different logical premises and conclusions. He distinguishes statements of fact from statements of value, and discusses the principles and uses of major types of arguments spanning the spectrum from syllogistic to conditional. McInerny also shows his readers the elements of illogical thinking, showing us how to recognize and avoid the common errors of logic.
Most books on logic are abstruse and heavy reading. This book differs in that McInerny breaks logic down to its fundamentals with clear analysis, relevant examples and focused insights. McInerny's tone is prosy and quaint. We feel he is talking directly to us. For instance, regarding Argument he says:
"Argument is rational discourse. It is not to be confused with quarreling. The object of argument is to get at the truth. The object of quarreling is to get at other people. There are any numbers of folk who, though happy to quarrel with you, are either unwilling or unable to argue with you. Don't waste your time and energy trying to argue with people who will not or cannot argue" (97-98).
And regarding the importance of clear communication:
"It is impossible to have clear communication without clear thinking. How can I give you a clear idea of something if it is not first clear in my mind" (14)?
The examples are relevant. Regarding the Principle of Contradiction, for instance, Dr. McInerny illustrates: "I could not explicitly say to myself "I tell many deliberate lies to Stephanie" and say 'I never lie to Stephanie" (29).
Any frontispiece quotation points, more than anything else to the author's objective in writing the book. McInerny quotes the famous Dr. Samuel Johnson as preface to his work:
"We may take Fancy for a companion,
But must follow Reason as our guide.
This, then, is the guideline that the Doctor has set both for himself and his readers.
Logic is rarely taught in school; McInerny considers it the missing piece of the American educational system. In order to attract students to...
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