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In 2003, after thirty-five years and against
much thoughtful negative advice, I decided
to revamp Intro-To-Logic around the Method
of Logical Counterexample–alone. In part,
the cover sheet cartoon/quotation conveys
my motivation. No more Truth Table, no more
Ad Hominem, Tu Quo, Amphibole, Formal Proof,
Obversion, Predicate Function, Venn Diagram,
Ad Populum, Straw Man, Petitio, Accent, Material
Implication, Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, Wff,
Reductio, Truth Tree, Equivocation, Completeness,
Ad Ignorantium, Distribution, Quantification,
Identity, Scope, Ad Baculum, Ad Nauseam.
And no more panegyrics to Logic’s pantheon.
Also, mechanical decision
procedures are too enticing. Just feed in
the data and press the GO-button. Voila--problem
solved. Truth-Value Analysis, Venn Diagrams,
and Rules of the Syllogism are species of
that sort. But there are no such procedures
for really important questions. They require
creative thought--not just manipulating the
given. Perhaps this too is why the Method of Logical Counterexample is a valuable approach. For while staying
within sound logical principles, Logical
Counterexample challenges the imagination.
There is just NO mechanical way of constructing
a correct and convincing Logical Counterexample.
As a result, success is rewarding both intellectually
and psychologically.
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