Feb 22 2009
Introduction to Christian Philosophy: Logic: its Definition, Utility and Division
See previous post here.
1. Logic is the science of the laws which the intellect must obey in order to acquire readily and surely the knowledge of truth. The human mind in its search after truth is subject to laws imposed on it by its very nature. The ascertainment of these laws constitutes Logic. Logic is a science rather than an art, because it considers the laws of the mind in their intrinsic principles and general applications, and is not confined to an enumeration of practical truths (see note 1).
2. Logic is of great utility for advancing in the cognition of truth, for guarding against error, and acquiring proficiency in any science whatever. As Logic habituates the intellect to classify and co-ordinate knowledge, it gives us great facility for progressing still further in the acquisition of truth; moreover, by familiarizing the mind with the nature and structure, as also the artifices, or reasoning, it enables us easily to discern the vices of a sophism and the false appearances by which error seeks to seduce the mind. Finally, it is evident that, as the sciences can advance only by means of reasoning, nothing is more conducive to their progress and easy acquisition than Logic, which is, in fact, the science of reasoning itself.
3. Logic is divided into three principle parts: the first investigates the nature and laws of reasoning; the second expounds the general conditions of science; the third determines the general rules of method. The object of logic is reasoning; but in reasoning three things may be considered: the nature of reasoning, the end of reasoning, which is science, and, lastly, the process or method followed to reach this end more easily. Logic, therefore, is divided into three parts, corresponding to the three aspects under which reasoning may be considered.
Notes:
1. Considered as “an enumeration of practical rules” for the detection and refutation of error, logic is an art. Hence, while logic is chiefly and primarily a science, it is dependently and secondarily an art. Aristotle defines art as “science employed in production.”Brother Louis of Poissy.
The first two posts in this series were introductory in nature. The next post will begin to examine the first of the three principle parts of Logic mentioned in #3 above, namely, the nature of reasoning. Due to the length of the subject matter this part will be divided into several posts.
