Formal Logic…most of us never learned the rules in school and shudder at the very thought of teaching it in our home school! But if you are going to raise a classical scholar, you really need to become familiar with the concepts and terms. In fact, you may find after completing a few lessons that you actually enjoy this methodical way of constructing and evaluating arguments. Let me briefly introduce you to the study of logic in laymen’s terms.
History
The western version of classical logic originated in Classical Greece with Aristotle. He called his argument the “syllogism.” Each statement followed a particular order containing a subject and a predicate. There are many vocabulary words, but three important ones to remember when teaching logic in your home school are: argument, reason, and conclusion.
Method
Reasoning shapes our thinking into intelligent patterns. When someone asks us for our reason for believing something, our minds have to go beyond the information given in order to decide, explain, predict, or persuade. Our reasons support our conclusion. So, a simple definition of logic is:
the system for using reasons and conclusions to construct and evaluate arguments
Whenever we give reasons to support our conclusions, we are presenting an argument. Officially, such reasons are called “premises.” Here is the structure of a formal logic argument:
Reason 1 (first statement to justify the conclusion – evidence)
Reason 2 (second statement to justify the conclusion – evidence)
Conclusion (statement that explains, asserts, or predicts based on the evidence or reasons)
Don’t know which logic books to buy for your homeschool? Traditional logic teaches methods for evaluating criteria like validity, truth, and soundness. Anthony Weston provides a brief overview of logic in his Rulebook for Arguments if you want an executive or top-level summary of the subject. In our own home, school we’ve used two logic curricula: Canon Press and Memoria Press. My recommendation would be to purchase Memoria Press’ Traditional Logic, books 1 and 2, for a full year of homeschool high school credit. Most homeschoolers are ready to tackle this methodical workbook sometime between the 7th and 8th year.
Critical thinking will skyrocket once your kids begin to understand traditional logic. In lesson five of the second book of the Memoria Press text, your homeschooler will learn how to apply all the methods for constructing and evaluating arguments to real-life. They can then take any newspaper article, identify the arguments including premises and conclusions, and evaluate with specific tools whether the argument is sound or not. This is a critical thinking skill that is rare in our culture and certainly unusual among teenagers; you owe it to your kids to give them these tools so that they are ready to take what they’ve determined and communicate their position effectively.
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Diane Lockman, Author of classical education homeschooling handbook Trivium Mastery, was born and raised in the Tennessee Valley between the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau. She teaches high school at home and coaches moms in how to teach in her homeschooling posts at The Classical Scholar.
Readers here may be interested in some software I have developed to teach formal logic at the high school level. More info and free download at my website http://www.dcproof.com
Cindy,
I am familiar with the reputation of the Bluedorns in the homeschooling community, but I have never used their suggested books. That is not because I chose not to use them, but the Lord never directed me that way for whatever reasons. Perhaps he is leading you towards different texts for your boys. Whatever you discern, follow!
Anyway, when my kids were around the age of your kids, we used several Critical Thinking Press games. I downloaded them directly from the website (one at a time), and I think I started with the Mindbender series and moved on to Math Detective and one about writing driving directions. (I can’t remember the name of that one.) I wouldn’t start the Memoria Press texts yet. The abstract concepts of formal logic might frustrate your guys. Introduce them during 7th-8th grade for a head start on high school credit.
Hope this helps,
Diane
Regarding teaching logic, I was just reading some by the Bluedorns about teaching younger children thinking skills to prep them for when they will be ready to learn more formal logic. I got to the article through the Trivium Pursuit web site. They recommend using the BUILDING THINKING SKILLS books, starting at Book 2 at age 10, and the book 3 volumes at age 11 and 12. Then, starting at age 13, they recommend their own books, of course, saying that they are an easy introduction to logic. They wrote THE FALLACY DETECTIVE and THE THINKING TOOLBOX.
What are your thoughts on any or all of these books? Is the Memoria Press Traditional Logic course difficult for children who haven’t had any of these other “prep” courses for logic, or is the age/developmental stage the most important thing for understanding the logic course?