Logic is a Tool

One of the things I have noticed over the years in youth ministry is a lack of a basic understanding of logic. Most people couldn't tell you what deductive, inductive, biforcation, equivocation or ad hominem mean, but they do generally understand the concepts and how they apply to how we process information about the world around us. However, I have seen a disturbing lack of even this understanding in younger generations.

With our culture becoming increasingly non-Christian, or even anti-Christian in some settings, it becomes more and more important that we be able to think about what we hear, see and read. I have heard people say time and again that belief in the Bible or God or supernatural is not logical. However, logic is simply the process that we use to think. Like science, logic is not opposed to anything. It is simply a method. It is a tool. A process. A method of evaluating ideas to see if they are sound or "valid". One thing my logic professor drilled into us is that logic does not determine "truth". Logic is only concerned with if a person's argument is sound. You can have a sound argument and still be wrong, especially if your starting assumptins are faulty.

Let's say you claim that if A happens then B will be true.
A happens.
Therefore B is true.

That is a sound, logical argument. but it relies on the assumption of "if A, then B". What if B does not necessarily have to follow A? Then you are wrong, but your logic is sound.

More often however, what we see happen in culture are what are called fallacies. Logical arguments that are not sound. They are invalid. A fallacy is simply something that "breaks the rules" of sound logic. One I see used a lot is called "equivocation." That is when you switch definitions of a word in mid-argument.

Practice makes perfect.
Lawyers practice law.
Therefore, Lawyers are perfect.

The word "practice" has more than one meaning, and the argument changes meanings in order to support the claim that lawyers are perfect. Another common argument I see in the debate on origins is this one.

Science involves laboratory observation.
Evolution (1) has been observed in the lab.
Therefore, evolution (2) is science.

The first definition of evolution is variations and changes of characteristics within a certain organsm.
The second definition is the theory that all life on earth has a common ancestor and that the small changes (1) over long periods of time accounts for all the varied life we see.
Definition 1 can be tested and observed. Definition 2 cannot.

I am going to, as I am able, do some simple blog posts on common fallacies. I don't think you necessarily need to know the formal egg-head names of these things, but it is important that we understand how these thought processes work so that we can (A) avoid using them ourselves and (B) see them when others use them. We live in a fast paced world where ideas, religions and philosophies abound. Everyone has a reason for why yours is wrong and theirs is right. It is best we have all the tools we can as we try to make sense out of all the information coming our way.

I hope I don't bore you too much.