LOGIC AND ETHICS
LOGIC QUESTIONS
What is logic?
Logic studies methods and principles used to distinguish correct from incorrect reasoning.
Name three common mental obstacles and describe them shortly.
CONFIRMATION BIAS: when we are prepared to only allow or consider what we already
believe in.
AVAILABILITY (HEURISTIC) BIAS: mental shortcuts that will help one make more
comprehensible decisions by referring to the first example that comes to mind
FRAMING BIAS: the way something is presented to us determines the way we interpret it
NAME TWO USES/FUNCTIONS OF LOGIC.
Help reasoning i.e. it lays down the rules for correct reasoning.
It helps one become aware of common obstacles and fallacies (formal and informal) in
logical thinking, i.e., it seeks to distinguish good arguments from poor ones.
WHY IS LOGIC NOT THE SCIENCE OF REASONING?
Logic is not the science of the law of thought in which case it would be a descriptive science
like psychology.
Sometimes people can come to conclusions reliably without being able to know or explain
how the conclusion was found.
Often people can come to the right conclusion for the wrong reasons.
Logic is the study of the mode of correct reasoning as shown in an interpersonal manner.
Logic is not the science of reasoning either because the logician is not interested in the
psychological processes of reasoning.
EXPAIN WHAT INFORMAL AND FORMAL LOGIC IS?
Formal logic is interested in the structure of the arguments.
Formal logic focuses on the contents of the arguments.
TUTORIAL 1