Practical Logic

Description

Practical logic is the study of critical thinking in everyday contexts. This class is foundational to all aspects of life, including our professional and personal lives. Without critical thinking people may not be able to differentiate between mere opinion and knowledge, which makes them susceptible to holding false beliefs without the means to make corrections. Critical thinking skills teach us how to identify mistakes in reasoning and how to correct these mistakes. This course teaches students the basic concepts of informal logic required for critical thinking. These concepts include the components of arguments, how to analyze logical inferences, and how to evaluate persuasive language as it is often presented in politics, news, social media, business, and even around the dinner table. In addition, students will learn how to identify logical fallacies, how to recognize good evidence (scientific or otherwise), and how to have fruitful discussions with others about even the most contentious topics.