A Class Room Logic: Deductive and Inductive, with Special Application to the Science and Art of TeachingMcNair, George Hastings
Philosophy
A Class Room Logic: Deductive and Inductive, with Special Application to the Science and Art of Teaching
McNair, George Hastings
Logic
In testing categorical arguments _three_ things are essential; first,
_to follow a definite plan_; second, _to give reasons_; third, _to give
the author the benefit of the doubt_. In view of these essentials, we
suggest this outline which may be helpful to the inexperienced:
(1) Arrange logically and complete the syllogism.
(2) Determine the figure and mood by using symbols.
(3) Apply the rules for negatives and particulars.
(4) Indicate the distribution by underscoring the terms distributed.
(5) Apply the rules for distribution.
(6) Name fallacies, if any, giving reasons.
We recall that to be strictly logical any categorical argument must
take this form: first, major premise; second, minor premise; third,
conclusion. Often in common conversation either the minor premise or
conclusion is given first. Illustrations of this: (1) “He cannot be a
gentleman (conclusion); for no gentleman would do such a thing (major
premise), and there is no doubt but that he did it” (minor premise).
(2) “He has the making of a good teacher (conclusion); because he not
only knows, but he knows how to impart what he knows (minor premise),
and this is a sure sign of a good teacher” (major premise). When the
argument appears in this illogical form, the first duty of the student
is to arrange it logically. To do this he must be able to recognize
readily the premises and the conclusion. To this end these facts may
be of assistance:
(1) A premise always answers the question “Why”, and is often
introduced by such words as “_for_,” “_because_,” “_since_,”
and the like.
(2) The conclusion is usually introduced by “_therefore_,” “_hence_,”
“_it follows_,” etc.
(3) When there are no word-signs those mentioned in the foregoing may
be inserted with a view of determining which is the conclusion,
and which are the premises.
_Suggestions relative to completing abbreviated arguments:_
(1) If the conclusion is to be supplied, select the term used twice in
the premises; this, the middle term, must not appear in the conclusion.
The other two terms may now be connected (copulated) to form the
conclusion, the _narrower_ term (minor) being used as the subject,
unless it occurs in what clearly seems to be the major premise. (2) If
either premise is to be supplied, unite the middle term with the
_subject_ of the conclusion for the minor premise, and with the
_predicate_ of the conclusion for the major premise. (3) In supplying
any missing proposition, care should be taken to make the argument
_valid_, if this can be done in conformity with good English, good
sense, and the rules of logic.
As regards the determination of the figure it is well to locate the
middle term first, placing above it the symbol M. Then “G” (greater)
may be placed above the major term and “S” (smaller) above the minor.
=3. ILLUSTRATIVE EXERCISES IN TESTING ARGUMENTS WHICH ARE ALREADY
COMPLETE, REGULAR, AND LOGICALLY ARRANGED.=
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