Steve Patterson

Category: Logic and Epistemology

  • Deduction, Induction, and Axioms

    You cannot think critically without understanding the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning. It’s not difficult to understand, but it’s crucial.

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  • The Bittersweet Paradox | On Mutual Exclusivity

    Do you ever chuckle at people who see the face of Jesus on their toast? They find confirmation of their faith everywhere; it’s a knot in their wooden table, a message in the clouds, or a face at the bottom of their teacup. Rather than disparage them, we should try to understand their error: it’s a simple methodological mistake. They actively seek out “signs”, and therefore they find them everywhere.

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  • Tautologies Must Not Be Dismissed

    Trivial. Redundant. Dogmatic. Useless.

    That’s what people really mean when they say, “Oh, your argument is just a tautology.” Indeed, one of the quickest ways to dismiss an idea is to label it “tautological” and, therefore, empty of content.

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  • The Metaphysics of Logic

    Logic is the bedrock foundation on which to build your worldview. It’s presupposed by every conclusion, every premise, and every thought. The very concepts of “truth” and “falsehood” are grounded in logic. So naturally, the question must be asked, “What exactly is logic? What is its metaphysical status?”

    What does it mean to say “logic exists” – what is its existence like?

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  • The Logic of Nothing

    Occasionally, language and logic blend together in such a way where the results are funny. It’s rare, but this is one of those occasions.

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  • The Logic of the Infinite Regress

    On the one hand, it’s essential to understand logical errors. On the other, it’s maddening. The clearer you think, the clearer you see the world, the clearer you see the errors in other people’s reasoning – which tend to be numerous, repeated, and sometimes aggressive. One logical error which is commonly misunderstood, and often outright defended, is the infinite regress.

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