What do you mean by Logical? (semantics)

[Protestor]

Being as I have studied logic in college I think I have a different conception of what logical means then most of the people in this forum. When I say logical I mean developed through propositions and systems of rules, but when I hear the way people in this forum use it I really think they mean that one thing follows from another. I truly think that most of the time people here should use cogent and not logical.

So what do you mean when you say something is logical?

Just as a curtesy to me if you use logical in a sentence specify what you mean.

May you bless God

 

[Joe_5859]

Being as I have studied logic in college I think I have a different conception of what logical means then most of the people in this forum. When I say logical I mean developed through propositions and systems of rules, but when I hear the way people in this forum use it I really think they mean that one thing follows from another. I truly think that most of the time people here should use cogent and not logical.

So what do you mean when you say something is logical?

Just as a curtesy to me if you use logical in a sentence specify what you mean.

May you bless God

I’ll use it in a sentence:

Your presupposition that you “have a different conception of what logical means then most of the people in this forum” is not logical but rather experiential and anecdotal.



I took a course on logic in college, too (among other philosophy courses). But it’s been awhile. I wouldn’t necessarily frame it as a “you people on this forum” thing as it’s really just a “people in general” thing. Not everyone uses words in the same way, especially in the realm of philosophy and theology. Logic has a more precise meaning in philosophy than it does in general parlance.

You may be correct that “cogent” would be a more apt word to use in many cases. You can certainly try your best to educate people in that regard. I have the feeling it would be an uphill battle, though.

 

[losh14]

Yes, it’s correct to point out that most folks don’t present arguments in the form of a syllogism or a reductio. These boards - like many - are more conversational and informative than theologically-defining, so it’s best to use and get used to the parlance that you see. If someone uses logical to mean “it makes sense” or “it makes sense to me” or “if you agree with this, won’t you agree with this” that’s the word they use to describe it.

If you and I were to debate something, I’d expect that logic means you’ve put forth a statement in the form of an assumption (or set of assumptions) and a relationship (or set of relationships) to support a conclusion (or set of conclusions). The beauty of a logical argument, in what I think you’re getting at as the meaning of the term, is that it only has two parts - assumption and connection - so that if one must attack either or both, and if one cannot, then the argument cannot be refuted.

 

[Protestor]

Joe 5859
I love the first part of your post facetiousness and sarcasm are my favorite. I enjoy your extension of my presupposition to people in general.

I guess I was just presenting a rant into the ether. I am just happy that someone understands.

 

[Joe_5859]

Joe 5859
I love the first part of your post facetiousness and sarcasm are my favorite. I enjoy your extension of my presupposition to people in general.

I guess I was just presenting a rant into the ether. I am just happy that someone understands.

“Logical” is not the only word that this has happened to either. That’s just the nature of language, I suppose. Ask an English major about people using the word “literally”.

 

[Aloysium]

I took a course in Logic about half a century ago. If memory serves me, I dropped it.
I don’t use the word much, and I don’t have much to offer this thread in the way of a definition other than what Google will turn up.
I either get what the person is saying and it leads to a dialogue, or not.
The feel of something > thoughts about it. Totally illogical, I suppose.