Friday, November 24

Logic

Two posts in one day... Ambitious? Or just abounding in free time currently? The latter is the more likely explanation for my overly thoughtfulness today. Logic is the flavor of the day (in my mind at least)...
The short story, "Love is a Fallacy" is quite possibly one of the most highly amusing short stories I have read. I believe that everyone should read it at least once; it is, like I said, a source of great entertainment, but also some lessons can be learned from it. Here's a link to the story for those who have the time and would like to read it: http://www1.asknlearn.com/ri_Ilearning/English/631/elang-ilearning/page3a.htm
I'll allow you to draw your own moral lessons from it if you so choose. My reason for including it in this blog is more as a foundation for what I want to talk about rather than the actual subject matter itself. A short summary of "Love is a Fallacy" might go something like this: A brilliant law student who is 100% logical sets his sights on obtaining an object of his desire- a girl. Sadly, this particular girl does not exactly meet up to certain of his standards in the intellectual arena. He undertakes to fix this problem by educating her; a course on logic is given in hopes of making her worthy of his greatness. In this case, success produces failure.
Now for my purpose. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I am a sentimental being, not logically minded at all. I differ in many ways from the girl in the short story above, in fact I am really nothing like her except in one respect. I do not have a "logic-proof head" as she was described to possess, however, I am eager to learn as she was (well... not quite like she was, but eager nonetheless). I would really like to take a course in logic. I am not naturally logical in thought, but I can learn it and understand it. I admire people who are logical and have great respect for them. Many times I have wished that I was much more logical, practical, reasonable. But God had other designs in mind for this mind of mine. Now that I think about it, I'm actually quite glad that I'm not naturally logically minded; if I were I would be a completely different person and would be lacking quite a few of the characteristics that make me so uniquely me. However, I still would like to take a course on logic. Because as I said before, I can be taught logic, it just doesn't come naturally to me to think that way. When someone explains something to me logically, it makes sense to me, I just wouldn't have come up with it if left to my own devices.
So my question is, is it possible for someone to be taught to think logically? I could take a course on logic, and learn all the concepts of logic, but would it make me begin to think logically? Perhaps I'll look into finding a class on logic. Any suggestions on how to learn logical thinking would be greatly appreciated.

6 comments:

Christy Joy said...

by the way, when were you annoyed with me because of your medicine? Just wondering.... (joel mentioned something about it...) :D

Paul said...

I'm taking advantage of Thankgiving break to do some blogging. starting tomorrow, I'll be nose to the law books until Christmas
Dr. Roy Benton used "love is a fallacy" for a teaching aid in his logic class at CUC. It's a great story.
Logic can be learned, but I think it's part nature-not just nurture. I think Barry might be more logical then me--law school not withstanding. We still have some fine hammer and tongs debates though...

Petraglyph said...

Hey Kristen!
Thanks for your comment on my blog. It's great to reconnect with you after such a long while! I appreciated the "illogical thoughts" you posted on your blog. :-) I'm a very illogical person myself, and can totally follow your train of thought.

Christy Joy said...

Kristin, if you find a class about logic let me know, we'll take it together :)

Paul said...

well, if you can add a link to my blog, I guess I can add a link to yours:-)

Caitlin said...

hehehe... your rambling thoughts remind me of my own on occasion ;)
Perhaps I would join the logic class too... maybe we'll get little in World Religions when we take it together next semester! yay!
About being logical... I quickly am told when I'm not - by my wonderful adopted brothers (aka. Joel, Jon V, Barry ext.) which I am sometimes grateful for! No, really, I love brain-stretching conversations, and I'm glad that God blessed me with so many friends who make sense! .... and have fun instructing me in the art of making sense too :)