Definition:Logic

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Definition

Logic is the study of the structure of statements and their truth values, divorced from their conceptual content.

It has frequently been defined as the science of reasoning.


According to Charles Peirce:

Nearly a hundred definitions of it have been given. ... It will, however, generally be conceded that its central problem is the classification of arguments, so that all those that are bad are thrown into one division, and all those which are good into another...

1965: E.J. Lemmon: Beginning Logic:

The best way to find out what logic is is to do some.

1988: Alan G. Hamilton: Logic for Mathematicians (2nd ed.)

Logic ... consists of deduction.

1993: Richard J. Trudeau: Introduction to Graph Theory:

... nothing but an etherealized version of the "common sense" we absorb from the culture as we grow up.

Matt Westwood:

Logic can be considered as the rickety gangplank between the ship of natural language and the solid ground of mathematics.


Also see

  • Results about logic can be found here.


Historical Note

The study of logic was begun by the ancient Greeks.

Their education system stressed the importance of competence in philosophy and rhetoric.

In order to excel in rhetoric, it was necessary to master logic.


Sources