Logic deals with meanings in a language system rather than actual behavior. A proposition is the meaning of a declarative sentence describing a state of affairs. While logic provides rules for calculations, rational behavior involves goals, assumptions, knowledge, and calculations to achieve goals. Logic is one factor in rational behavior but does not equate to it. Analytical sentences express necessary logical truths, while contradictions express inconsistent statements. Simple propositions represent predicators in capital letters and arguments in lowercase.

1. Logic Logic is a word that means many things to different people. Many words such as logic and logical could be replaced by expressions such as rational behavior and reasonable. For instance, you may say that “Nicole acted quite logically in locking her door”, meaning that Nicole had good, well thought-out reasons for doing what she did.

2. Logic Definition LOGIC deals with meanings in a language system, not with actual behavior of any sort. Logic deals most centrally with PROPOSITIONS. The term ‘logic’ and ‘logical’ do not apply directly to UTTERANCES (which are instances of behavior) A proposition is the meaning of an utterance of a declarative sentence which describes some state of affairs.

3. Logic Exercice Based on the definition of the term logic, what can you say about the following statements? In other words, do they satisfy the narrow sense of logic? It’s not logical to want to kill herself yes/no Harry is so illogical: first he says he doesn’t want to come, and then he changes his mind. Yes/no The truth that Socrates is mortal follows logically from the fact that Socrates is a man and the fact that all men are mortal. Yes/no Ali is not coming is logically, the negation of Ali is coming. Yes/no

4. Logic There is an important connection between logic and rational action. But it is wrong to equate the two. Logic is just one contributing factor in rational behavior. Rational behavior involves: Goals Assumptions and knowledge about existing states of affairs Calculations, based on these assumptions and knowledge, leading to ways of achieving the goals.

6. Cheese is food

7. There is a piece of cheese in front of me.

8. I am able to eat this piece of cheese.

10. Logic Rational action: eating the cheese HOWEVER, If the word cheese is replaced by chalk, would the calculations lead to the conclusion that I should eat a piece of chalk? Yes, the calculations would lead to the same conclusion, because logic provides rules for calculations regardless whether we think it is irrational to eat a piece of chalk.

11. Logic Analytical sentence and Logical contradiction Analytical sentences Are those expressing necessary truths of logic Ex. Either John is here or John is not here. Logical contradiction a. John is here and John is not here b. If someone is here, then no one is here.

13. Logic Exercice: Translate the following into this simple notation: (1) Arthur dreamed (2) Bill Gulped Charlie Swore Patrick cursed Why do we omit ‘the’, ‘a’ in forming this logic? Answer: these do not affect the truth of the proposition Exercice, p. 148