Informal logic

What is it?

Informal logic is like a toolbox for your brain. It helps us understand and improve how we think, reason, and argue in everyday life. It's not about fancy math or computer code, but about the arguments we use when we talk to each other. It helps us make sense of discussions, debates, and disagreements. It's like a guidebook for thinking clearly and making good decisions.

What is it for?

We use informal logic all the time, even if we don't realize it. When we decide what to believe, who to trust, or what to do, we're using informal logic. It helps us figure out if someone's argument makes sense, or if they're trying to trick us with bad reasoning. For example, if a friend tells you that all dogs are friendly because their dog is friendly, you can use informal logic to realize that this is not a good argument. Just because one dog is friendly, doesn't mean all dogs are.

Where did it come from to us?

Informal logic has been around for a long time. Ancient philosophers like Aristotle were already thinking about how we reason and argue. But the way we study it today started in the 1970s, when some smart people realized that the formal logic they were teaching in universities wasn't very helpful for understanding real-life arguments. So, they started developing a new kind of logic that was more practical and useful for everyday life. This new field became known as informal logic.

Who is the hero?

One of the most influential people in the field of informal logic is Ralph H. Johnson. He's a philosopher who has written a lot about how we argue and reason. He believes that a good argument is not just about convincing other people, but also about responding to their objections. He once said, "The arguer has an obligation to respond to all serious objections, and if he or she does not, the argument is to that extent defective."

Let me tell you a true story

Once upon a time, there was a big debate about whether the earth was flat or round. The people who believed the earth was flat had some arguments that seemed to make sense. For example, they said that if you look around, the earth seems flat. But then, a smart guy named Eratosthenes used informal logic to prove them wrong. He noticed that when he stuck a stick in the ground in one city, it cast a different shadow than a stick in another city. From this, he reasoned that the earth must be round. And he was right!

Cool facts you can tell your friends

1. The word "logic" comes from the Greek word "logos," which means "word" or "reason."

2. Informal logic is sometimes called "the logic of everyday life."

3. Some people think that studying informal logic can help you become a better listener, because it teaches you to understand other people's arguments.

4. The first textbook about informal logic was called "The Way of Words" and it was published in 1976.

5. Informal logic can help you spot "fallacies," which are mistakes in reasoning that can make an argument seem stronger than it really is.