Logic

Though it is seldom found in schools today, logic is of foundational importance to classical education. Logic may be defined as the science of good reasoning. It is the methodological act of weeding out lies and searching for truth. Though the process can be thought of as cold, grey, and lifeless, it undergirds the warm, colorful, and lively thoughts of human beings made in God’s image. 

Formal logic, such as categorical logic, helps us sort things into proper categories and examine their relationships, such as the syllogism:

          All men are mortal.

          Socrates is a man.

          Socrates is a mortal.

Informal logic helps us see the issues of relevance or ambiguity in everyday arguments, such as the Ad Hominem:

          “Ben’s argument about taxes sounds reasonable, but he often yells at his wife, so we shouldn’t take it seriously."

Humans can reason because God created them with that capacity. Using it, we can make sense of both God’s world and his Word. We are commanded to become like Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:5) who was Truth (John 1). Christ reasoned consistently, and so should we. We are commanded to discern (sort) between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14) and we do so by using logic.

At Kenai Classical, logic is interwoven in all subjects, but it is also taught as a distinct subject beginning in middle school and continuing in high school. We teach logic as a distinct subject because, like reading, the concepts it encompasses are critical to a proper study of everything else. A student who is able to “logic” what is true and valid will benefit in literature class, math class, and every other endeavor that requires thinking.