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.

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.

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.