Logic

Clark's small book Logic covers all the essential elements one would need. I picked it up as a layman; so naturally, I didn't go through every single diagram. This is intended to be a classroom text on the subject and the author is quite fit to present this text having been a professor of philosophy for some sixty years. Even his opponent Dr. Norman Geisler, in his Baker's Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics notes Clark's positive achievement in teaching the evangelical Church to be more logical. The splendid part, though it was a small part is that this logic workbook is actually written from a theistic perspective. Most would not think consider logic as having a place either in theism or a-theism. However, in one of the chapters (in the introduction), Clark points out that adherence to logic (which he defines as the law of non-contradiction), is the first step in distinguishing good from evil, theism being the second step (granted many intermediate steps in the chain of reasoning). Beyond that, some of the examples are taken out of Scripture, which illuminates some texts, no doubt, as one reads. You will try to find omitted premises (enthymemes) in a group of texts, understand the logical implications of premises having David Hume, Spinoza, Descartes, Augustine, Anselm, Bertrand Russell, and Plato as examples. For the most part, this book is quite readable and as a logic text, it probably could not get more interesting. However, chapter 5 and forward until 11, are full of tables, formulas and diagrams. Once again, this is a textbook--albeit interesting. However, the postscript is the most appealing part for the philosopher and theologian. Entitled "God and Logic", he defines God as Logic. God is Logic and therefore his logic is our logic and his arithmetic is our arithmetic. That is, we know in the same way that God knows although we don't know the same things. The How is the same while the What differs. And to Clark, unless we know something God knows, our ideas are untrue. Hence, Logic is to be studied.

This is my first, and still favorite, book on logic. Clark starts at ground zero and builds a foundation for understanding the strengths and limits of logic. He covers Aristotelian term logic ( the A, E, I, and O forms), the "Laws of Logic" (non-contradiction, identity, excluded middle), Euler's diagrams, and the "Traditional Square of Opposition". He explains the meaning of validity and fallacy, necessity, enthymeme, immediate inference, and syllogisms. The book is small, but dense. Some sections will take some effort on the reader's part - Clark makes you work for you learning. He also gives you a logical algebra for working with more complex argument forms. (This is not the standard logical notations you see today, but it is very sensible and Clark explains why he uses the symbols he does. Plus, you can use normal typed characters instead of Greek and other obscure symbols.) One does not need to be a philosophy major to understand the basics of correct thinking. Clark's "Logic", with a some metal muscle - will help you think correctly. There are other "logic for dummies" type books, and there are "logic for PhDs" books. This is "logic for thinkers".

Clark knew philosophy very well and knew logic better than most ever will. Yet he is able to write so that the beginner may understand. For the new student who has no instructor in logic, some sections will have to be read slowly several times. Clark was of the old school and expected the student to know more and to be able to better use his intellect than the average student today is able to do. This work is an excellent introduction which if carefully studied will put the reader far ahead of students using other texts. There is also a companion workbook available from the publisher although there are probably enough exercises given in the text by the author. Although both include glossaries of pertinent terms and use biblical examples, I believe this work is far superior to "Come Let Us Reason," by Geisler and Brooks.