I would like to say that I know how to think, though I’m not necessarily a good thinker. Certainly, the way I think has changed greatly through the years. Currently, I try to think as logically as possible. My current method of thinking is the result of years of debating and reading on logic, mathematics, and science. Through my reading and my experiences with debating, I’ve learned about the different logical fallacies, how to provide support for an argument, and to never make generalizations based on personal anecdotes.

I believe people should think logically, for the sake of clarity and for the sake of making sense. Logic is something that is indispensible. We use it every day, in our science, mathematics, language, and arguments. Without logic, thinking becomes muddled and unsound. We need logic to help us separate truth from lies, to help us understand how the world functions, and to help us make good decisions. It is impossible to even abandon logic. Suppose I made this statement: there is no such thing as logic. If that were true, then the previous sentence would be completely meaningless, since language is based on the laws of logic. In order for anything I say to make sense, I have to assume the validity of the laws of logic. So, to answer the first question, I do know how to think and that is one should think using the principles of logic.

Well then, how do I know? How do I know that the laws of logic are sound, and that people should apply them in their thinking? Every once in a while, someone will ask me a similar question. And, he will point out that any attempt to justify the validity of reason and logic will have to depend on reason and logic itself. To do so would be circular logic, and therefore committing a logical fallacy. So, how do I justify logic without having to use logic itself? Well, that is pretty simple. The validity of logic is an axiom. It is something that is self-evident, and cannot be denied without making self-contradictions. It is like one of the postulates in mathematics. We need some place to start, and we start with the assumption that logic is valid. If that assumption is false, then nothing in this world makes any sense. It is necessary to presuppose that this assumption is valid.

Some people want me say that I believe in logic out of faith, which to me is the belief in something that is insufficiently evidenced. However, belief in an axiom is different from faith, which has no place in my life. As I mentioned earlier, an axiom is self-evident. It sets the foundation, and one necessarily has to presuppose that it is valid. Is this the case with faith, say faith in God? Is God self-evident? No. Is he necessary? No. Can I deny the existence and validity of God without being self-contradictory? Yes. As you can see, belief in logic is different from belief in God, and it is certainly not faith.

I know that I am digressing a bit, but look at how far logic has taken us. It is not an exaggeration to say that almost all of our advancements are the result of logic. Faith, on the other hand, has hardly taken us anywhere. It is belief in something out of the blue, and is completely unnecessary in our world.