Logic, Inductive and Deductive

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About this book

William Minto approaches reasoning as a practical defense against error, while tracing how logical forms developed over time. His manual links the history of the subject with the habits needed to judge an argument. Beginning with Aristotle and the changing purposes of logical study, it moves through names, definitions, propositions, and the structure of the syllogism before turning to inductive reasoning and scientific investigation.

The worked discussion of syllogisms shows why a conclusion depends on the exact reach and meaning of its premises. Ambiguous terms, unsupported general claims, and invalid combinations receive close attention. Later topics listed in the contents include observation, evidence, causation, hypothesis, probability, and analogy. Readers interested in philosophy or the teaching of reasoning can use the book to examine both formal rules and the practical problems those rules were designed to address.