Logic is the Tool of Philosophy, Philosophy is the Tool of Logic

Religion and Thought Service, Iran Book News Agency (IBNA); The book ‘Thoughtfulness: Logic Based on Persian Language and Culture’ by Mohammad Hossein Khorshidi has been published by Philosophy and Culture Publications.

This book is a rewriting of Aristotelian logic based on the Persian language and culture, which is more familiar to Iranians. In this way, understanding logic becomes smoother and easier for them. Additionally, the examples provided to clarify logical issues are drawn from things Persian-speaking people deal with in their daily lives today. Thus, they are tangible and easily understood.

In this book, an effort has been made to separate Aristotle’s logic from what others have added to it. Although some of these additions have helped a better understanding of Aristotle’s logic, this separation has also removed some ambiguities that arose from these additions in understanding Aristotle’s logic.

Some interpretations, such as the traditional view of the external existence of subjects in universal propositions, which have caused certain ambiguities, have been subjected to meticulous examination and analysis. One such ambiguity, regarding the external existence of subjects in universal propositions, manifests itself in Venn diagrams. The first and second moods of the third and fourth figures, whose conclusions are particular, are shown as invalid in Venn diagrams! Whereas these two moods from the two figures with particular conclusions are completely valid. However, due to a shortcoming in Venn diagrams, which has been hidden from the perspective of modern logic, the validity of these two moods is not shown.

Just as logic is a tool for philosophy, philosophy can also act as a tool to aid in understanding parts of logic. Therefore, sections of philosophy linked to Aristotelian logic that helped in its understanding have been discussed.

In the book, Aristotle’s perspective on substance and accident has been meticulously analyzed, and Aristotle’s intended meaning is presented. In the Five Arts [Pentateuch of Logic/Rhetoric skills], instead of using ancient concepts and examples, modern concepts and examples understandable to people are utilized.

Parts of modern logic are included in the book to familiarize the reader with new logic. An effort has also been made to respond to some criticisms from modern logic that are either fundamentally unfounded or do not correctly interpret Aristotle’s logic.

Finally, it should be recalled that the main goal of the book is to show the Iranian reader that all of us, from the beginning to the end of life, are involved with and live by the principles and rules of logic. Therefore, logic is a knowledge that must be valued and learned so that we do not get caught in the destructive vortex of sophistry and superstition.