Navigating the Realm of Logic: Ensuring Its Correctness

Checking the validity of our logic is like an endless journey, much like trying to determine if a path leads to the correct destination. Logic is not merely a tool for discovering truth; rather, it is a tautological process designed to reach conclusions based on given premises. This article explores strategies and perspectives on how we can validate our logic, drawing from both traditional philosophical methods and more contemporary understandings.

Two Modes of Proper Evaluation

According to Buddhist logicians, there exist two modes of proper evaluation, known in Sanskrit as pramāa, which are crucial for determining the truth or falsehood of statements. These methods help in discarding false conclusions and arriving at only true conclusions. Pramāa is a systematic way to evaluate the veracity of what is presented, ensuring that the process of investigation and conclusion-drawing is rigorous and unswayed by false presumptions.

Logics as Tautological Processes

Logic is often seen as a framework for constructing models about the world, rather than a system that directly deals with truth. It is a tool for reasoning about propositions and statements, not about the world itself. This means that we can work within the boundaries of logic to assess the validity of a statement, but the soundness of an argument or proposition depends on the truth of its premises. The validity of a logical structure can be verified, but the truth of the premises that feed into it can only be determined through empirical observation or other forms of knowledge.

Trusting Intuition and Innate Reasoning

While we cannot empirically verify every aspect of our logical systems, our trust in their correctness often rests on intuition and the belief in our innate reasoning process. This is akin to the way we rely on our intuition when we make decisions or when we trust the principles of science, such as the existence of atoms, the theory of gravity, or the understanding of the universe's celestial bodies.

Observation and Testing as Truth Standards

Just as we determine the true nature of the physical world through observation and testing, we can apply the same methods to logic. The fact that Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, exists can be confirmed through observation and testing. Similarly, the truth of logic can be confirmed through systematic evaluation and logical testing. This aligns with the broader understanding that logic is a truth-discovering mechanism and a feature of reality itself.

Conclusion

Validating our logic is not an abstract exercise but a practical one rooted in observation and testing. By engaging with logic in a rigorous and thoughtful manner, we can ensure that our reasoning is sound and aligned with the true nature of reality. Whether we are assessing the validity of a statement or determining the accuracy of our logical systems, the ultimate verification lies in the empirical evidence and the principles of sound reasoning.