THE ART OF REASONING

THE ART OF REASONING

by Wm Henry Cash, Jr.  1949

1927 - 2012 

               All reasoning requires that there be one agreement at least, if there be two agreements, we may reason to the third agreement; if there be one agreement and one difference, we may reason to the second difference, but if there are two differences, we cannot reason to any conclusion whatever.

             It is necessary that each term as far as possible

            be defined, and 2/50 each proposition which can 

            be proved by a simple one.   

  The middle term may be known

by the fact

that it is not

included in the 

conclusion.

THE MAJOR TERM

is always 

the predicate of  the  conclusion  

and 

THE MINOR TERM

the subject of

the conclusion.  

---

]

He who cannot reason is a fool; he who 

will not is a bigot; 

and he who dares not, is a slave.

----

False reasoning always appears in many words.

We hold many beliefs

because we are 

brought up in them.

We hold many beliefs

because they are old. 

                                                                 We hold many beliefs because everyone else says so.

We hold many beliefs because of

self-interest,

self-justification, 

self-sentimentations,

and 

fashions.

WE NEED TO BE THINKERS

WE NEED TO BE TRUE

TO WHAT IS TRUE.

TYPES OF REASONING
    I.   ANALOGY - REASONING from A particular to
                   B particular.
   II.  INDUCTION - REASONING FROM A particular  to 
                A general.   
  III.  DEDUCTION -  REASONING from A general to 
                B particular.  

                          BASIC LAWS OF THOUGHTS

  I.  LAW OF IDENTITY 

(WHATEVER IS, IS)

              II.  LAW OF CONTRADICTION

 (NOTHING

                                CAN BOTH BE AND NOT BE)

                     III.  LAW OF EXCLUDED MIDDLE

 (EVERYTHING MUST EITHER BE OR NOT BE)