Introduction
Present-day individuals are faced with an infinite flow of information coming from various sources, such as TV advertisements, political claims of presidential candidates, or news articles on websites. Not all of these messages are true and logical, so people have to treat information critically to avoid being deceived. Therefore, critical thinking skills and the ability to apply logic to assess information and make decisions are crucial for people nowadays. This paper will review the concept of critical thinking and types of logic, as well as key steps in identifying logical arguments. In the end, the practical application of logical reasoning skills will be discussed.
Critical Thinking and Logic
Critical thinking is not just thinking since it involves analyzing information and identifying logical links between ideas. It is not about merely memorizing and recalling facts; instead, a critically thinking person relates new facts to the already existing knowledge and uses new information to make rational decisions and predict possible consequences. Furthermore, a critical thinker can identify and evaluate arguments in other people’s speech, as well as find inconsistencies between them and common logical fallacies. At the same time, a critical thinker is able to demonstrate valid logical reasoning in constructing his or her own arguments.
Critical thinking is based on logic, which is the study of correct reasoning principles. Logic studies the process of argumentation, that is, constructing valid arguments to support a particular idea. This process includes taking a certain position, making claims that reflect it, and supporting the claims with reasons backed up with evidence. Argumentation is used to persuade someone, explain something, reveal the truth, and make inferences.
Logic uses two methods of reasoning: deductive and inductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning means making a specific conclusion based on general premises. Inductive reasoning, on the contrary, involves making a generalized conclusion based on specific premises. Logic is also divided into two categories: formal and informal logic. Formal logic uses deductive reasoning and is focused on the form of arguments rather than their content. It means that formal logic is not concerned with the truthfulness of arguments; rather, it checks whether the structure of the argument is valid or invalid. Formal logical arguments follow such rules: they have at least two premises, the first of which marks a formal logical argument, and the second determines the type of argument and how its validity is defined. In contrast, informal logic uses inductive reasoning and is focused on assessing to what extent evidence is weighty and relevant. Sometimes, informal arguments can be translated into formal arguments to check the validity of their form.
Logical Arguments
Before evaluating arguments, one should learn how to identify them. The argument always has a point of view and a conclusion that is supported by evidence. Before searching for arguments, it is necessary to make sure that the given information has the purpose of persuading the audience. For example, articles in an entertainment magazine usually do not intend to convince readers of anything, so it is no use searching for arguments there. On the other hand, an election campaign is designed to persuade citizens to vote for a particular candidate, and, therefore, it should present arguments in support of this person. If the information aims at persuading, one should identify what its main point is. Sometimes, premises of the argument are indicated by such words as ‘because,’ ‘since,’ ‘given that,’ and ‘assuming that,’ while the conclusion of the argument is identified by such words as ‘therefore,’ consequently,’ hence,’ and ‘thus.’ Drawing a diagram showing connections between premises and the conclusion may be helpful in further evaluation of the argument.
To evaluate the argument, one should pay attention to evidence used to support it, as well as counterexamples and counterarguments. First of all, the argument should be clearly presented so that the audience can easily identify the author’s position. Further, it is necessary to assess whether the evidence used is credible, relevant to the argument, and supportive of the conclusion. Counterarguments and counterexamples should also be assessed, and if the argument is strong, they will not weaken or destroy it. Finally, one should make sure that the argument has no logical fallacies. Common errors in logical reasoning include circular reasoning, fallacies of relevance, and semantic fallacies.
While arguments are a powerful tool of persuasion, there are other means serving the same purpose. They include euphemisms, dysphemism, persuasive comparisons, explanations, and definitions, stereotypes, innuendoes, downplayers, proof surrogates, and hyperbole. These types of words and phrases do not use logic to persuade; rather, they manipulate the emotional coloring of information. Although the appeal to emotions is often used for persuasion, a critical thinker should not be guided by emotions but assess information critically.
Practical Application of Logic
Logic has a wide application in various spheres of life. Formal logic is used in games, essay writing, answering test questions, and programming. People apply informal logic in everyday life while assessing the information they get from various sources, such as TV, advertisements, and other people. Informal logic is also used in legal reasoning since each party in the court tries to persuade the judges of the invalidity of the opposite party’s evidence and reach a favorable verdict. Public policy analysis also involves informal logic since government officials should identify problems, find solutions, and assess their consequences.
Conclusion
This paper discussed the concepts of critical thinking and logic. Deductive and inductive approaches to logical reasoning were described, as well as the difference between formal and informal logic. Further, recommendations about how to identify and evaluate the argument were given. In the end, the paper reviewed some practical applications of formal and informal logic, such as essay writing, legal reasoning, and public policy analysis.