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Formal Logic and Conditional reasoning

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:15 am
by Bright_Law
Chapter of Formal Logic in Powerscore LR Bible is very detailed and lacks summary.Is there any other recemondation for Formal logic?

Apart from powerscore are there some books for Conditional reasoning?

Re: Formal Logic and Conditional reasoning

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:18 am
by TheTopBloke
Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking by Marillee Salmon (5th ed.)

Provides some solid real world examples and fallacies and good foundation that goes beyond the tricks in the LR bible.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 8wIwADgA#p

Re: Formal Logic and Conditional reasoning

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:30 am
by Bright_Law
TheTopBloke wrote:Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking by Marillee Salmon (5th ed.)

Provides some solid real world examples and fallacies and good foundation that goes beyond the tricks in the LR bible.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 8wIwADgA#p
How would you define thinking critically? Not believing anything? Always find deficiencies in any accomplished work, service or product? Or there is something more than this?

Re: Formal Logic and Conditional reasoning

Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:37 am
by TheTopBloke
How would I define it? I'd define it as the ability to think for yourself.

Re: Formal Logic and Conditional reasoning

Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 12:52 pm
by brickman
The LRB chapter on formal logic requires that you understand some, most, all, and never statements and how they functionally operate together and what type of additive and inherent inferences can be made on the basis of various formal logic statements.

What is important to solving these questions correctly is having the ability to see these formal logic statements, diagramming if it is necessary for you, and then attacking the questions. These are mechanical questions with mechanical answers, the key to doing them correctly is to understand the machinery of it.

Re-read the chapter and take notes while reading, think about those notes and try to understand why the logic works that way and how the additive and inherent inferences make sense given all the different combinations that are presented in the chapter.


Edit: I would suggest a similar approach for the conditional reasoning chapter. Force yourself to understand why the conditionals make sense. Make sure you have a firm understanding on what a necessary condition and a sufficient condition is. READ THIS: http://www.top-law-schools.com/conditio ... oning.html

Re: Formal Logic and Conditional reasoning

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:58 pm
by hhlavinka
I found the PowerScore LR Bible was a little less explanatory than I needed. It breaks down the question types wonderfully and the hints are very useful. However, my horrible, frustrating lack of LR/Critical Thinking foundational skills make the book only go part of the way for me.

Has anyone ever looked at this book?
"A Modern Formal Logic Primer," by Paul Teller

It's free on his website:
http://tellerprimer.ucdavis.edu/

I was just wondering if it was worth spending any more time reading. It's interesting, nonetheless. However, I soon won't have time to sit around reading all day once I start working full-time. I don't exactly know what would be "LSAT logic" to look for in this book. I have seen other reviews and recommendations for other Introductory Formal Logic books, but this one is free and I would like to try to use it.