In this paper, I will overview my experience with the logic course. I will try to evaluate how it affected me. I will also try to give examples of the positive effect it had on my everyday life.
Before I started the course, my idea of logic was pretty uncertain. I was aware that logic is mostly about analyzing things and making correct conclusions from what you saw. Hurley’s textbook clarified the definition for me by stating that logic is a system of methods to evaluate arguments and figure out which ones are correct (Hurley 1). That explanation did not change my view of logic but made me better understand what logic is. My initial view was correct, but it was not well-developed or clearly defined. After taking the course, I have managed to really grasp the idea of logic and truly understand what it means. The classes have also changed my mind about logic in my everyday life. Previously, I have thought that logic is mostly useful for scientists, and using it on the day to day basis is unnecessary. After I have come to know the principles of logic better, I came to the conclusion that it is essential to use it constantly and apply its principles to every decision you make. Logic is a way to make choices that will lead to your goals. If your way of thinking is illogical, you will not only fail to achieve what you want but will not even understand why you did not succeed. After studying the principles of logical thinking and ways to evaluate arguments I have changed my approach to many everyday activities.
Previously, I have not paid much attention to the way I approach decision-making. I used to simply do with whatever came to mind first and not worry about it. The studies of logic managed to change my approach. Now before I make a decision, I stop to evaluate it from a logical standpoint. That applies even to simple everyday things. For example, I used to buy yogurt from a local store. I never really thought about why I buy this exact type of yogurt. However, one day after a logic class, I went to buy some and suddenly questioned why I am buying it. I thought about it logically, trying to remember why I picked it up the first time. I recalled that I had seen a commercial and decided to try it. I was not greatly impressed but kept buying it mostly because I didn’t want to look for something new. So applying logic to the situation, I thought that I might enjoy something else more.
I am yet to find anything better, but logic has helped me rethink my approach to buying things. This example might be simple, but it illustrates how the very basics of logical thinking can change our everyday lives. I also started to weigh and analyze the arguments more carefully. Of course, I always knew that you need to check the evidence before trusting anybody, but logic has given me more tools to avoid being misled. In my everyday life, I can point out my opponent’s errors to defend my point. An argument which proponents of censorship make is that if we allow full freedom of speech, we will also allow people to freely distribute snuff and execution videos. That is a typical slippery slope argument. Allowing people to freely express themselves does not mean allowing them to hurt other people. I used this counter argument when trying to prove my point to a conservative friend. Previously, I would not have thought why his opinion is faulty since his point of view seems legitimate at the first glance.
Thinking about more complex situations, I can come up with another example. I was asked by my relative to help her pick a cheap laptop. She wanted something simple for internet surfing. I searched for options online and found a seemingly perfect one. It was a decently powerful and very cheap machine. However, something seemed off to me. According to the customer review the laptop was great, but knowing that people tend to be biased I concluded that it is a bad argument. I decided to check the producer website and other marketplaces. After a short survey, I found that the evaluation was correct, but noticed another detail. The laptop was considerably more expensive on other marketplaces. By doing a quick search on the place where I wanted to buy the machine initially, I found out that they likely deal in stolen goods and that the laptop will likely have fraudulent documents and will not be accepted for free repairs by the producer. While there was no direct proof of the first statement, it correlated with the very low price I observed. The second claim was proven by the people showing the messages they got from the producers of various goods they bought at that store. I made the conclusion that the argument is strong enough to avoid buying anything at that place. Previously, I might have just jumped at a good deal, but the logic studies taught me to evaluate arguments carefully.
Overall, I can conclude that the logic course has not changed my worldview greatly. However, it has clarified a lot of things for me and provided me with a great toolkit for decision-making.
Works Cited
Hurley, Patrick J. A Concise Introduction to Logic. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Publishing, 2012. Print.