Logic: The Method of Reason—part 5 by Harry Binswanger

Logic: The Method of Reason -- part 5: Fallacies

Atlas Shrugged has been aptly described as “a hymn to logic.” But today what one finds in logic textbooks are sterile, formalistic diversions from real-life issues. This course, in contrast, will focus on the most personally important — and most neglected — topic in logic: concepts. It is proper conceptualization, not facility with syllogisms, that makes the difference between clarity and confusion, rational and irrational functioning, adhering to reality and wandering through dreamland. Drawing on Ayn Rand’s revolutionary identifications in logic, these five classes focus on the proper formation, definition, maintenance, and use of concepts. Emphasis will be given to working on practical exercises. The course is based on the material in chapters six and seven of How We Know, with class exercises to practice applying the principles to concrete cases.

Class 5. The lesson begins with analysis of the homework exercises. The four characteristics that make examples cognitively powerful are presented, with practice time allotted to help the student learn how to “think in examples.” Mill’s Methods and Thought Experiments are discussed. As well, three conceptual fallacies are defined and examined: false integration/division; anti-concepts, and stolen concepts.

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[aeomaster]

So good to see these courses, especially for those of us who live far away. It is quality education. Thank you!

[gykyqew]

13:43 homework
Rationalization
23:18 fallacies of conceptualization
37:10 frozen abstraction
50:30 socialism

[murada]

3:00 A cause is a special kind of relationships, it's a direct relationship between an attribute and an action. It works both ways by the way, whether the thing produced the action, or the action changed the thing, it's a direct relationship between them.

[ronniereloaded]

My definition of cause

Examples I will skip. Intermediate concepts are Aristotle's four causes. Final definition is as follows

"An aspect of an action, without which an action ceases to exist"

For example color of rolling wheel is not the cause of rolling action. Solid nature and shape are. Also push is...