Lectures

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  1. Why Logic Matters

  In our introductory lecture, Dr. Hicks explores the vital role of logic as a practical tool for human thought—shaping how we survive, solve problems, and interact with others. The lecture introduces key logical concepts such as arguments, premises, conclusions, and indicator words, while clarifying the important distinction between truth and validity in reasoning. Through engaging examples of strategic thinking and logical puzzles, it illustrates how mastering reasoning skills sharpens our ability to uncover hidden assumptions and reach sound conclusions. Dr. Hicks concludes by showing how logic not only strengthens our critical thinking but also acts as a safeguard in social situations and a cornerstone of justice and civil discourse.
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  2. Concepts & Our Cognitive Hierarchy

  In lecture two, we explore the crucial role of concept clarity in logical thinking, tracing how humans progress from basic sensations to abstract concepts through perception and conception, with examples from counting, animal intelligence, and definition-making. We emphasize the need to define key terms precisely before debating complex topics like religion and politics, illustrated by distinctions such as envy versus jealousy and the difficulty of defining “human being.” The lecture concludes with three major views on the nature of concepts: nominalism, realism, and Ayn Rand’s objectivist view that concepts are cognitive products grounded in reality.
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  3. Logical Fallacies

  In lecture three, we study common patterns of invalid reasoning known as informal fallacies, including subjectivism, appeal to majority, appeal to authority, ad hominem, and appeal to force. We examine psychological experiments by Solomon Asch and Stanley Milgram that show how peer pressure and authority can override independent judgment, revealing why these fallacies remain so pervasive. Dr. Hicks concludes with the historical debate between Thomas Henry Huxley’s call to follow reason without compromise, Tertullian’s rejection of logic in favor of faith, and Galileo’s effort to reconcile reason and belief.
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  4. Fallacies & Cognitive Biases

  In lecture four, we look at various logical fallacies that appear to connect premises to conclusions but lack genuine logical support, instead relying on psychological manipulation. We examine begging the question (including circular reasoning and complex questions), equivocation and amphiboly (ambiguous language), appeals to emotion, false alternatives, and appeals to ignorance, with its related burden of proof principle. Dr. Hicks emphasizes recognizing these fallacious patterns in everyday contexts—from parenting and politics to law and religion—and highlights how these fallacies can be subtle and tempting when the stakes are high, underscoring the importance of recognizing and avoiding them in argumentation.
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  5. Deduction: Categorical Syllogisms

  In lecture five, we transition from informal fallacies to the study of valid and sound arguments, focusing on syllogisms—their types and the methods used to evaluate them. We explore categorical syllogisms in depth, identifying the four basic proposition types, translating complex statements into standard logical form, and using Venn diagrams to test validity by seeing whether the conclusion is contained within the premises. The lecture concludes by examining philosophical debates on whether logical principles reflect objective reality or are human constructs, drawing on perspectives from Wittgenstein, Nietzsche, and H.W.B. Joseph.
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  6. Deduction: Hypothetical & Disjunctive Syllogisms

  In lecture six, we delve into hypothetical syllogisms, exploring their simpler structure compared to categorical syllogisms and learning to recognize if-then statements in various English formulations. We examine four mixed hypothetical arguments, two pure hypothetical syllogisms, and disjunctive arguments with their inclusive versus exclusive "or" distinctions. The lecture concludes by contrasting perspectives on logic's value, presenting Julian Huxley's view of logic as essential for an "honest, tidy mind" versus Carl Becker's dismissal of logic as mere "hocus-pocus" designed to conceal intellectual timidity.
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  7. Propositional Logic

  In lecture seven, we explore modern symbolic logic—its evolution from traditional logic to its integration with mathematics and its foundational role in computer science and programming. We examine four key argument patterns, learn to symbolize logical connectives, and use truth tables to test argument validity. Dr. Hicks concludes by showing how binary logic underpins both mathematical systems and electrical circuits, enabling modern computing, while also considering philosophical challenges to logic’s universality from thinkers like Hegel, Marx, and Hitler, who argued for relativized, group-specific logics.
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  8. Induction & Open-Ended Discovery

  In our eighth and final lecture, Dr. Hicks discusses the differences between deductive and inductive reasoning, focusing on how inductive reasoning enables generalizations from specific observations to broader conclusions, though with less certainty than deduction. We examine five key rules for evaluating inductive arguments and study Mill’s four methods of induction. Our course concludes with the historical case of Ignaz Semmelweis’s discovery of the cause of puerperal fever, illustrating how logical reasoning, careful observation, and hypothesis testing drive scientific breakthroughs and reveal the social challenges of implementing new knowledge.