THE ROLE OF LOGIC IN RATIONAL THINKING

Understanding the principles of logic enables you to evaluate arguments and to better distinguish between good and bad reasoning - between truth and falsehood. By developing a grasp of formal and informal logic, you will improve your ability to evaluate the claims others propose, thereby making better decisions, and forming more sound judgments. The ability to discern a valid argument from a false one is an important skill and a key aspect of critical thinking.

The origins and importance of logical Thinking The power and beauty of Socrates' categorical syllogism Arguments: What they are and how to recognize them What Michael Palin can teach us about the argument The Journey from Premises to Conclusions • Identifying the components of a good argument Evaluating logical arguments based on criteria such as validity, strength and cogency The Importance of Logical Thinking in the Workplace

Recognizing and producing arguments in standard form Using deductive and non-deductive arguments How the syllogism has changed the world Understanding the difference between the categorical syllogism, the disjunctive syllogism and the hypothetical syllogism Why you need to recognize the most common errors in formal logic - affirming the consequence, and denying the antecedent Recognizing the difference between Modus Ponens and Modus Tollens Bertrand Russell and the 'excluded middle'