Start Here...first Principles (b)

By Author: Terry Dashner
Total Articles: 105
Comment this article

Start herefirst principles (B)

Terry DashnerFaith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013

Here are some concepts in logic that are fundamental to establishing truth. When we assign words (symbols) to correspond to certain aspects of reality (referents), we are using another law of logic called the law of identity. This law simply states that something is what we say it is: A is A. A correlative principle, the law of excluded middle, asserts that it is either A or non-A (but not both). All valid thinking rests on these principles: they are absolute, and without them thinking would not be possible. [Norman Geisler and Peter Bocchino, Unshakable Foundations (Bethany House: Minneapolis, Minnesota) p. 24]

Alexander Pope correctly observed that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! This cliché could be true in our case if we fail to point out the principal limitation of logic. When we use logic as the focal point of our intellectual lens, we must be very careful to recognize that its effectiveness is limited to finding error alone. Logic's function is to correct faulty thinking, ...
... or groundless reasoning, and is therefore a negative test for truth. This is a very important characteristic: logic by itself will not help us find truth but will only help us detect error. What is true must be logical, but what is logical is not necessarily true. [Ibid, p. 28]

For example, the statement two plus two equals four is logical. Similarly, the statement two leprechauns plus two leprechauns equals four leprechauns is also logical. Both statements are logical; however, the second statement does not mean that leprechauns actually exist. You would have to test and see if there is any evidence to support the claim that leprechauns are real. Consequently, what is real or true must be logical, but what is logical is not necessarily real or true. [Ibid, p. 28] The law of noncontradiction, the law of identity, and the law of excluded middle all relate to the field of study called, logic.

Two fundamental truths about humankind are existence and reality. To be real is to exist and to exist is to be real. Reality is, regardless of our knowledge of it. For example, gravity exists; it is part of reality. Even if Sir Isaac Newton had never defined gravity and we had no knowledge of its existence, it would not stop existing. Reality, like gravity, is something that exists no matter what we think: reality is independent of our minds. [Ibid, p.25]

The opposite of reality is illusion. For someone to say that everything is an illusion is delusional. Why? Because in order to know something is an illusion is to know something of reality. How else would someone know an illusion if he had never known reality? There must be reality to affect the contrast. One can not know illusion without knowing reality. When one applies his thoughts to the nature of reality and then makes truth claims about what he discovers, his truth claims will either be logical or illogical (nonsense). For that reason, the initial question to ask the person who thinks that logic does not apply to reality is, What do you assume to be true about logic and reality? Logic is unavoidable. [Ibid, p. 26]

The law of noncontradiction is universal. Remember the words of Mortimer J. Adler? The principles of logic are neither Western nor Eastern, but universal. Anyone who visits the Far East will note that computers operate in the same manner as they do in the West. The logic used in places like India is identical to the logic used in North America, because logic is universal in nature, and the laws of logic are universal. Food for though, wouldn't you agree?

(The second in a series entitled, Start herefirst principles)

Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming soonHe's the only logical solution. Pastor T.


About the Author Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK. US Navy veteran, retired police officer, and father of three grown children.