Nature Of Logic

Nature of Logic and Perception

The nature of logic as it relates to critical thinking is a process. Logic is defined as a science that deals with the rules and tests sound thinking and proof by reasoning (The Merriam Webster Dictionary, 1998). It involves perception, assumption, emotion, language, argument, logic, and fallacies. Logic is a key component of critical thinking and without there can be no critical thought. In addition, perception ties into logic and critical thinking because it incorporates clarification and understanding. The perceptual process uses steps to provide better understanding to how you may perceive things. The way people perceive things can be similar, but most often it is very different. Many different things have an effect on the way you perceive things and the way that you think about situations critically.

For example, Kirby & Goodpaster (1999) state:

Who we are is how we think. Where and how we were raised may determine whether we are pessimists or optimists, conservatives or liberals, atheists or theists, idealists or realists. Our upbringing shapes our fears, which keep us from facing thoughts. It shapes our self-concept, which moves us to defend our thoughts. And it shapes our emotions, which can distort our thinking to an exceptional degree. In this and in other ways our psychological world, shaped by our exposure to cultural and genetic forces, often acts as a barrier to sound thinking" (pp. 1-2)

The environment I was raised in was traditional in some aspects and shaped how I perceived the world. It also shaped my emotions and how I felt the world should work, not to mention how people behave. For example, respect was a huge issue when I was growing up. When you came across an adult, you had to say, "Yes sir" or "Yes Ma'am". If you did not then you would face consequences. Usually that was in the form of a whipping, slap to the face, or some sort of physical redirection to deter you from making that mistake again. Respect also meant opening doors for women, saying "thank you" and "please", and opening car doors for women. It made respect for me very important now that I am an adult and I do and say those things in my everyday life. I feel that respect is one of the most important factors of communication and relationships. I also feel though, that if was not instilled in me as it was then the importance of respect may have been very low for me now.

"Many of the values and preferences you have now, including religious ideas, sexual mores, and work ethic, were instilled in you since birth by your culture. This process, called enculturation, is going on continually, even now, no matter what your age." (Kirby & Goodpaster, 1999). I agree, enculturation is continuous for all of us regardless if we recognize it or not. It is of our unconscious mind that it happens because we do not realize it as it is going on.

In my line of work, the issue of respect is ever-present. I work with severely emotionally disturbed children and teens that are involved with gangs. Respect is something that is rarely a concern of theirs. Although I communicate to them how important it is to respect a person and to receive respect, it seems to go unnoticed most of the time, especially with the teenagers.

One situation in particular was a learning experience for one of my young, troubled, teenage boys. He felt that no one really deserved respect unless they were doing something for him. That was his logic for his relationships in his life, buying him some shoes, a jersey, some jeans, or a nice shirt meant you were worthy of his respect. He felt that he could get want he