====== Logic ======

In this category, //fallacies of logic// are discussed. 

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{{ :logic:marble-greek-philosophers.png?nolink&400|Greek philosophers in marble [A​I-generated by Stable Diffusion]}}
<figcaption>Marbles of Greek philosophers (<abbr>AI</abbr>-generated)</figcaption>
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Logical fallacies are traditionally understood as either **[[logic:formal_fallacies:index|formal]]** or **[[logic:informal_fallacies:index|informal]]** fallacies, the latter of which overlaps with the fallacies of [[rhetoric:index|rhetoric]].

This is however not the only possible classification, and it might not always be the best one. For the German version of this site, an approach has been chosen, where formal fallacies are divided into fallacies that apply to the //conclusions//, and those that apply to the //assumptions// made. Informal fallacies were then moved to rhetorics and other categories.

English, however, lacks the descriptive terminology for these categories, and there is also a much stronger tradition of using the formal/informal categorisation. For this reason, the traditional classification is used here (for now). It should be noted that it is still worthwhile to consider //other// classifications and how they would change the way we look at those fallacies.

In addition to the fallacies, this site section also hosts a collection of **[[logic:inferences:index|valid inferences]]** for reference. For some reason, this has become the most popular part of this site.

===== Terms and names =====

//Logic// is a very old science (commonly linked to [[wp>Aristotle]] from the 4th century B.C., even though there were important logicians before him). Most of the terms we use today have been established the latest in the Middle Ages, i.e. at a time when //Latin// was considered the common language of scholars.

Even though nowadays most the literature in this subject is written in English, it still commonly uses words that have Latin or even Ancient Greek origins.

Wherever there is a choice, the English terms are generally preferred on this site, but in many cases there is either no suitable equivalent, or the Latin terms are so much more commonly used that the English term would be rather confusing. For example the expression "<i :la>[[logic:formal_fallacies:non_sequitur|non sequitur]]</i> " is used literally since millennia. In such cases, of course the more common term is used.

===== Different kinds of logic =====

Throughout the long history of logic, many varieties and, of course, also entirely independent systems of logic have developed. The variations of the [[meta:logical_symbols|logical symbols]] in use today is evidence of this diversity (and unfortunately also a source of //confusion// as there is no standardised, generally accepted symbolic language).

It is far beyond the scope of this site to even remotely reflect this range. The presentation and selection of topics in the articles here is therefore based solely on how the most important logical fallacies can best be explained. It may well be, however, that in certain logical systems, or even in variants of the propositional logic presented here, individual errors do not (or cannot) occur in the form presented here. Nevertheless, the basic principles behind the fallacies described here also apply to these systems and it definitely makes sense to familiarise yourself with them for a better general understanding of logic. 

It also follows from the above that this site cannot provide a complete introduction to logic, such as would be taught in an undergraduate philosophy course. The articles here can help to better understand certain concepts or make them more comprehensible by means of examples, but they do not substitute a textbook and both the presentation and the depth of content may differ significantly from what may be asked in an exam.


===== Subpages =====

  * [[logic:formal_fallacies:index|Formal fallacies]]
  * [[logic:informal_fallacies:index|Informal fallacies]]

  * [[logic:inferences:index|(Valid) Inferences]]

===== More information =====

  * [[wp>Logic]] on //Wikipedia//