Logic
Grow the clarity of your reasoning by learning and practicing the principles of logic.
we’re faced with arguments from all kinds of people who want us to accept their conclusions, and we’re trying to develop our own arguments for what we understand as reality.
If we don’t understand and practice logic, we can’t discern valid and sound arguments from fallacies, even in our own thinking.
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Logic is used to distinguish correct reasoning from incorrect reasoning.
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Without the use of logic, we often just choose or create arguments that fit what we already think: we rationalize instead of using reason.
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We all have some sense of logic and reason, but it’s intuitive, and it’s closely tied to our beliefs and values. We can recognize when someone makes an argument based on values that are different from ours (e.g. when an opposing political party talks about an issue), but we’re much less critical of arguments where the premises are in line with our values, even if the conclusions are invalid or unsound.
Therefore:
Grow the clarity of your reasoning by learning and practicing the principles of logic; diagram your arguments and the arguments of others if necessary.
Logic is an important tool when you’re trying to sort out what’s real and what isn’t—Guarded Mind