Introduction to Informal and Formal Logic

The study of logic (the art of reasoning) can seem daunting to some, but it is perfect -- and some may even say necessary -- for middle school students who are ready to argue and want to do it well and to the glory of God.

During our first semester together, students will learn to identify strong and weak arguments and interact with numerous informal fallacies of relevance, presumption, and clarity. Our second semester will focus on formal and categorical logic, where students will practice translating arguments into categorical form, constructing syllogisms, and evaluating the validity of claims.

Course Description

Why learn logic? Logic turns students in critical thinkers, which is a skill clearly lacking in our current culture. It helps students look at media and culture with a discerning ear, taught to spot errors in reasoning and rebut them. In short, it trains the next generation to combat lies and seek Truth. And, it can even be fun!

Texts

• The Art of Argument, Student Text (Classical Academic Press)
• The Discovery of Deduction, Student Text (Classical Academic Press)