Logic isn’t about being right. It’s about not being wrong for dumb reasons. That’s the quiet superpower of the rules of logic — they’re like the physics of thinking straight. They don’t care how you feel, who you voted for, or how many Twitter followers you have. Logic just is. And once you know the rules, you start to see who’s bluffing and who’s playing clean.
The Core Three:
These are the bread and butter of classical logic — Aristotle’s greatest hits.
1. Law of Identity (A = A)
A thing is what it is. If you say “A dog is a dog,” congrats, you’ve just used formal logic. It’s obvious, yes. But it’s also essential. This is the rule that says definitions matter. If someone starts shifting the meaning of a word mid-argument — say, redefining “freedom” to mean whatever suits them — you’re watching the Law of Identity get mugged in an alley.
2. Law of Non-Contradiction
Something can’t be both true and false at the same time in the same sense. You can’t say “All cats hate water” and “This cat loves water” and call that consistent. Either your first claim is too broad or the second is a glorious exception. But logic demands you pick a lane.
3. Law of the Excluded Middle
A statement is either true or it’s not — no middle ground. This doesn’t mean “all nuance is dead,” it just means a specific claim (e.g., “The car is red”) can’t be both true and false at once. It either is or it isn’t. Binary. Like a light switch — not a dimmer.
Logic Isn’t Your Opinion, Bro
Logic is structure, not content. It doesn’t tell you what to believe, it tells you how to test belief. The classic deductive format — syllogism — goes like this:
- All humans are mortal.
- Socrates is a human.
- Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
If both premises are true, the conclusion has to be true. That’s logic. And it’s how Sherlock Holmes — and a whole lot of lawyers — make a living.
Inductive vs Deductive
Deductive logic is airtight. It’s math-like. If the premises are true, the conclusion is guaranteed.
Inductive logic is more like science. You gather evidence, see patterns, and make the best guess. Inductive reasoning is why we know the sun will rise tomorrow — not because of a law, but because it always has. Probability, not certainty.
Common Fallacies: The Cheats of Thought
These are like glitches in the matrix of your brain. If someone uses these, they’re either confused… or trying to confuse you.
- Straw Man: Misrepresenting someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.
- Ad Hominem: Attacking the person instead of the idea.
- Appeal to Authority: Believing something is true because “someone smart” said it.
- Slippery Slope: Assuming one small step leads to total chaos.
- Circular Reasoning: “This is true because it says so.” Okay, cult leader.
Logic helps spot these. It won’t stop people from using them — but it’ll stop you from falling for them.
Why It Matters (Even on the Internet)
In a world of comment sections and conspiracy theories, logic is your mental Kevlar. It’s how you spot the bait. It’s how you test the pitch. It’s how you keep your dignity in a debate.
Logic is also how computers think — every IF/THEN decision a machine makes is pure logic in action. You’re literally training future AI how to argue by using logical rules.
Final Thought: Logic ≠ Emotionless
People think logic is cold. It’s not. It’s just honest. Logic doesn’t erase emotion — it gives it clarity. You can be passionately right or furiously wrong. Logic is the map that tells you which you are.
So next time you’re in a debate, don’t just shout louder. Reason better.
Because in the end, logic doesn’t care who wins.
It just wants to know the truth.