Learn critical thinking and logical reasoning to create valid arguments, avoid logical fallacies, and solve real-world problems using tools like if-then implications and Aristotle’s logic.

Critical and logical thinking are essential in today’s democratic society and professional organizations. This course lays a foundation for these skills by embedding logic into everyday language and situations.

You will learn to create logically valid arguments, recognize and avoid logical fallacies, and focus on the form of an argument rather than its content. You’ll explore how to prove the validity or invalidity of arguments and understand the historical development of logic from Aristotle’s syllogism to modern predicate logic.

By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to tackle real-world problems more effectively using logical operators, if-then implications, and other tools in logical reasoning. You’ll gain skills in using logic and language judiciously in both your professional and civic life.

Logical Thinking

# Relation between truth and validity 
 
Truth and validity are qualitatively different in meaning, and it's a categorical mistake to confuse or use them interchangeably. Hopefully, budding logicians like you won't make that mistake after this lesson. It's important to remember the following:

* Propositions are true/false.

* Arguments are valid/invalid.

Propositions don't use the currency of valid/invalid, and arguments aren't discussed as true/false.

Yet, a definite relation exists between an argument being valid/invalid and its constituent propositions (premise[s] and conclusion) being true/false. How many unique possible relations are there?


Learn about validity and truth in the context of arguments and propositions.

Introduction to Logical Thinking

Fallacies in Logic

Logical Argument

What Is Logic?

First Theory of Logic: Aristotle’s Logic

Second Theory of Logic: Propositional Logic

Third Theory of Logic: Predicate Logic

Logical Reasoning in Action

Wrap Up

Validity and Truth

Relation between truth and validity