The Art of Logical Thinking

LOGICAL THINKING

distinguishing it from knowledge gained through the senses. It may be regarded as the "mental architect" among our mental powers; it transforms the material provided by the senses... into new results, and in this way, it builds up the foundations of science and philosophy. The previously mentioned author Edward Brooks, cited on the previous page. adds: "It produces two things: ideas and thoughts. An idea is a mental product that, when expressed in words, does not form a statement or proposition propositionIn logic, a proposition is a statement that affirms or denies something and can be judged as true or false.. A thought is a mental product that links the relationship between two or more ideas. The ideas created by the understanding fall into two general categories: abstract ideas and general ideas. Thoughts also fall into two general categories: those relating to contingent truth and those relating to necessary truth. Regarding contingent truth contingent truthContingent truths are facts that are true in our world but could have been different (e.g., historical events or scientific observations)., we find facts, or immediate judgments, and general truths (including laws and causes) derived from specific facts. In necessary truth necessary truthNecessary truths are principles that must be true under any circumstances, such as the rules of mathematics or fundamental logic (e.g., 1+1=2)., we find axioms—or self-evident truths—and the truths derived from them through reasoning, which are called theorems."

In inviting you to consider the processes of reasoning, we are irresistibly reminded of the old story from one of Moliere's Molière (1622–1673) was a famous French playwright; the author is likely referring to a scene in The Middle-Class Gentleman (Le Bourgeois gentilhomme). plays, in which one of the characters expresses surprise on...