Stu says: I've always thought of logic as a human construct, a tool for understanding and interpreting data rather than a 'law' of nature (so to speak). Are you saying that all the rules of logic are in fact universal and not the product of human consciousness?

I would say that the laws of nature are discovered primarily by empirical reasoning - observation of multiple instances under various conditions, leading to a conclusion. Once a law has been determined, one uses logic to draw further conclusions and make practical applications of the laws. Logic starts with a premise, and then builds upon that premise on a systematic process. For that process to be valid, it must follow the rules of logic.

As Lighter says, valid arguments are very few; but the list of logical fallacies is long (and rather exciting). Alas, politicians seem to prefer the latter....



-Joe-