Logic and rationality: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Fundamental concepts in philosophy}}

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{{lead too short|date=May 2016}}

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As the study of argument is of clear importance to the reasons that we hold things to be true, [[logic]] is of essential importance to [[rationality]]. [[Argument]]s may be logical if they are "conducted or assessed according to strict principles of [[Validity (logic)|validity]]",<ref>[[Oxford Dictionary of English]], sense 1 of logic.</ref> while they are rational according to the broader requirement that they are based on [[reason]] and [[knowledge]].

Logic and rationality have each been taken as fundamental concepts in [[philosophy]]. They are not the same thing. Philosophical [[rationalism]] in its most extreme form is the doctrine that knowledge can ultimately be founded on pure reason, while [[logicism]] is the doctrine that mathematical concepts, among others, are reducible to pure logic.

==Forms of reasoning==

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=={{anchor|Illogicality}} Illogical thinking and irrational processes==

[[wikt:illogicality|Illogicality]] in terms of thinking processes are, as defined by researchers such as [[Aaron T. Beck]], cognitive distortions that cause abnormal functioning. The state of [[Depression (mood)|depression]] often feeds off of [[wikt:illogical|illogical]] thinking and results in victims being mired in self-defeating conclusions. Patients seeking psychological help may suffer from problems of [[Hasty generalization|over-generalization]], becoming mired in general, negative conclusions on the basis of essentially insignificant life events. [[Cognitive behavioral therapy]] can assist individuals in recognizing their own habits of faulty logic and slanted interpretations of past experiences.<ref>{{citebookcite book|title=Abnormal Psychology|pages=67–68|first=Ronald J.|last=Comer|publisher=Macmillan|date=2010|ISBNisbn=9781429216319}}</ref>

On the other hand, depression in the sense of "Weltschmerz" in its non-aesthetically realistic and non-positivistic nature is intrinsically logical and rational. Some philosophers assert that the question of value of life has not been answered in psychologically pleasing way without embracing [[circular reasoning]] fallacy.<ref>{{citebookcite book|title=Weltschmerz: Pessimism in German Philosophy, 1860-1900|pages=87-10087–100|first=Frederick C.|last=Beiser|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2016|ISBNisbn=9780198768715}}</ref><ref>{{citebookcite book|title=Pessimism: Philosophy, Ethic, Spirit|pages=33-3433–34|first=Joshua F.|last= Dienstag|publisher=Princeton University Press|date=2009|ISBNisbn=9780691141121}}</ref>

In the socio-political context, the ability to amalgamate disparate, conflicting interests and passions into an illogical synthesis has been labeled as a possible strength, albeit one with concurrent weaknesses, by literary publications such as ''[[Blackwood's Magazine]]'':

{{quote|It is difficult not to connect together these two very characteristic ideas of illogicalness and permanence. Not that illogicalness is itself a virtue, but the illogicalness of which we speak is not simply bad reasoning. It means here only that more than one principle is found to assert itself in... social work. But these principles are fused into a higher unity. The illogicalness is not the cause of the permanence, but rather both are joint products of a common cause— respectcause—respect, namely, for the living forces which exist in human nature.<ref>''Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine'', Volume 104. 1868.</ref>}}

==See also==

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==Bibliography==

*Robert Hanna, 2009. ''Rationality and Logic''. MIT Press.

[[Category:Logic]]