Logic: The Ancient Art of Reason

Wooden Books

by Earl Fontainelle

How do you tell what’s right from what’s wrong? Can you always? What’s the difference between deduction, induction, and abduction? What are the best techniques for making an argument logically sound? In this fascinating little book, the smallest on its subject ever produced, philosopher Earl Fontainelle explores the ancient art of discursive Logic and demonstrates some of the techniques that have long been used to triumph over the debates and deceptions that assail us every day. Filled with helpful examples of good and bad reasoning, Logic is an invaluable introduction to a defining human characteristic.

Genres: Philosophy, Logic

64 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2016

Reviews

[Isaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

The first table on propositional logic could really be ordered in a way that makes sense.

Also, this books refers to pages that don't exist (p. 189, p. 190 and p. 240)

[Tiago F · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent book about logic, although not quite what I was expecting it. It gives a very brief history of logic and dialectic and then describes some basic logic and logical fallacies. I got it with the intention of learning more formal logic, which I was largely ignorant of, but it provided very little. Had a few pages at the end and that was it.

I think it's overall a good book for beginners, and reads very easily. I read another book introducing argumentation a couple of years ago, and I think this one made a better job. Nevertheless, it had almost nothing on formal logic or several types of logic. Everything was very simple. If you're familiar with argumentation and basic logic, you may learn nothing at all.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logic first published in 2016, provides a neat summary of practical logic and reasoning. According to this book, logic is considered the foundation of the three linguistic arts of logic, grammar, and rhetoric. Reason engages us with the present, by helping us understand the past and plan for the future, while logic is said to be the laws by which reason operates.

After the introduction, this book is divided into about 30 sub-sections, each which describe a different component of logic. While most sections cover topics that a high school class in English writing will teach you, some sections were surprisingly refreshing such as: 1) dilemmas and 2) linguistic/non linguistic fallacies.

The most useful section I read from this book was dealing with dilemmas. According to this book dilemmas can be dealt with in two ways. First, is grasping the horns of a dilemma. With such a method, you show that one or both of the major premises is false. This will break the connection between the antecedent and the consequent. Second, dilemmas can be met with a counter dilemma, with rebuttal. This is done by constructing a new dilemma from the same premises, but with a new and opposite conclusion.

My favorite section overall in its surprising conclusions was the existence of linguistic and non-linguistic fallacies. In linguistic fallacies, one can take distributive qualities and attribute them to the collective (composition fallacy) or then can take collective qualities and attribute them to distributive ones (division fallacy). Regarding non-linguistic fallacies, some include the "in this respect" (what is true in certain respects is assumed true in all respects), "during this, therefore because of this" (where because two things occur at the same time, they must be linked), and finally "complex question fallacy" (smuggling an assumption into the question and demanding a single answer).

[Dan Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a certain elegant aesthetic of treatment in a topic you already know well (formal logic), you may enjoy this little book. It's not a brief Logic-for-dummies introduction. I'm reminded of the old Apple MacIntosh Programming series: you have to know every other book already, in this case chapter, to understand the one you're just reading, but for the saving grace of his leaving a breadcrumb trail of page numbers to topics he's referencing.

[Pooja Babu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good collection of various techniques of Logic used in everyday life. The book also covers some logical fallacies that humans encounter on a daily basis - in arguments, courtrooms, political speeches etc. It is a short read, although a bit intense in terms of remembering all the techniques, fallacies and to identify and implement them in real life. It can be used more as a guide or a go-to book to refer to when we encounter such instances.

[Övgü Özdemir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for gaining initial insights and sparking curiosity for further reading on logic and fallacies. The ability to spot and counter bad arguments is essential for anyone trying to survive the nonsense out there, so it’s highly recommended.

[Jesus · Rating 5 out of 5]

You must get this book if you are a lover of logic.

[Vageesh Saxena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and thorough read! Highly recommend it to anyone wanting to understand the significance of logic and reasoning in our day-to-day life.