Rationality and logic

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   janesixposted 11 years ago

   Please give me some examples of books or websites where I can study rational /logical thinking. I want to join the real world now.
   
   Books are good, but websites would be better, as I have a limited income, and can't really afford to buy many books. Although titles would be good, so I can at least read about them.
   
   Thanks for all of your patience, you guys, with my constant weirdness and flip/flopping on these things.

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2. 60

   janesixposted 11 years ago

   I am reading names like Kant and Francis Bacon. Are these good writers to start with? Or something more modern?

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3. 60

   janesixposted 11 years ago

   reason: the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.
   
   rationality: the quality or state of being reasonable, based on facts or reason
   
   logic: reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity
   
   validity:  quality of being logically or factually sound; soundness or cogency
   
   The definitions seem kind of circular. Can some one decipher it for me? Or give better, more understandable definitions?
   
   (Editing to add more definitions, for my personal clarification.)
   
   Cogency: the quality or state of being convincing or persuasive
   
   Soundness: competent, sensible, or valid
   
   Fact: a thing that is indisputable
   
   so, logic is this:
   
   LOGIC: ability to think, understand, and form judgments, assessed according to strict principles based on indisputable things, that are sensible and convincing.

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4. 60

   janesixposted 11 years ago

   "Deduction is a form of reasoning in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the stated premises."
   
   Is deductive reasoning the only infallible type of reasoning?
   
   All the other types appear to have at least some amount of probability or likelihood factored in. Deductive reasoning seems to be the only type that is exact.

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5. 58

   A Troubled Manposted 11 years ago

   If you can find a nearby community college or some other learning facility, sign up for a critical thinking course. You will not regret it.

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      janesixposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I would love to, but can't really afford it. I have a very limited income.

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         A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         There are free online courses, but it would be much better to take a course in order to interact with others.

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         bottlerocketeerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         My best suggestion would be to look at MIT open courseware.  They offer free video lectures on a wide variety of topics.  Your best bet would probably be to look under the Mathematics or Philosophy Departments though.  Good Luck!

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