Logic, n. The art of thinking and reasoning in strict…
“Logic, n. The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding. The basic of logic is the syllogism, consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion - thus: Major Premise: Sixty men can do a piece of work sixty times as quickly as one man. Minor Premise: One man can dig a post-hole in sixty seconds; Therefore- Conclusion: Sixty men can dig a post-hole in one second. This may be called syllogism arithmetical, in which, by combining logic and mathematics, we obtain a double certainty and are twice blessed.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Logic is portrayed as a tool limited by human misunderstanding, illustrated by a flawed syllogism that absurdly claims impossible speed.
In simple terms: Logic is limited by human error and can produce absurd conclusions.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of reasoning and verify premises.
Themes
logic
human error
philosophy
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- policy analysis
- engineering design
- every everyday decision
- media critique
Key Concepts
syllogism
critical thinking
mathematics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you test the validity of premises?
- What safeguards prevent faulty reasoning?
A Different Perspective
Logical conclusions can be misleading if premises are flawed.