Logic: the Right Use of Reason

Many know that Isaac Watts wrote beautiful hymns, but few know that he also wrote a series of Logic texts used in universities for over 200 years. Logic was first published in London in 1724. This newly reprinted edition has been taken from the 1847 edition published by William Milner.

Isaac Watts says of his work, “It has been my endeavour to form every part of this treatise both for the instruction of students, to open their way into the sciences, and for the more extensive and general service of mankind, that the Gentleman and the Christian might find their account in the perusal, as well as the Scholar. I have therefore collected and proposed the chief principles and rules of right judgment in matters of common and sacred importance, and pointed out our most frequent mistakes and prejudices in the concerns of life and religion, that we might better guard against the springs of error, guilt, and sorrow, which surround us in every state of mortality.”

The above is an example of the writing style, so common in the 18th century, which holds throughout the text. For this reason alone I consider it an advanced text: one which ought to be studied after the student has already completed a year of introductory logic in either Traditional Logic, or the Mars Hill Logic. But as to the value of working through such a text, there can be no doubt: it is in learning to read prose such as the above with understanding that educates us and expands our mental abilities, and even trains us in logic, as subordination - that way of thinking which makes one idea or thought subject to another idea or thought - is the hallmark of this prose style, and a key to the science of logic as well.

Logic: the Right Use of Reason is arranged in four major sections, which correspond to the components of the science of logic: of perception and ideas, of judgment and proposition, of reason and syllogism, and of disposition and method. Under perception and ideas, Watts expands on the nature of ideas, the objects of perception, the several sorts of perceptions or ideas, words and their several divisions (together with the advantage and danger of them), general directions relating to our ideas, and rules to direct our conception of things.

Under judgment and proposition, Watts expands on the nature of a proposition and its several parts, the kinds of propositions, the springs of false judgment, or the doctrine of prejudices, general directions to assist in judging aright, and special rules to direct us in judging particular objects. Under reason and syllogism, Watts expands on the nature and parts of a syllogism, the kinds of syllogisms and their rules, the doctrine of syllogisms, and general rules to direct our reasoning. The fourth section, disposition and method, explains the nature and kinds of method (natural and arbitrary, synthetic and analytic) and covers general and special rules of method.

The text contains no exercises in the modern way of thinking about them, in the way that the other Logic texts contain exercises. Rather, a student in the 18th century, wishing to master the subject of this text, would study each chapter, outlining it if he had access to paper, or if not, still outlining its major points and subdivisions, with their definitions, in his mind, and committing them to memory. When he had worked through the whole text in this way, he then would consider the subject material “learned,” although he would concede that his understanding of logic would only deepen as he sought to utilize it and study it further.

Modern students could also do the same if they wished to train their minds to disciplined study. But for those who would like further help, the Berean Bookshelf has produced a Study Guide which covers the whole of Watts’ text. It explains the same concepts in modern English, section by section and chapter by chapter, provides diagrams that illustrate the concepts for visual learners, and application questions that provide the student with some practice in working through those concepts. In the Study Guide you will find these ten steps for working through each chapter in the text, which will give an idea of the scope of the Guide:

1. Read the chapter overview in the Study Guide.
2. Read the first section in the corresponding chapter in the text.
3. Read the corresponding section in the Study Guide, working your way through each section in this manner until the chapter has been completed.
4. When a chapter has been completed, read the chapter summary in the Study Guide.
5. Study the diagram illustrating the chapter’s principles in the Study Guide.
6. If any concept is unclear, review those sections in the text and the Study Guide until it is clearly understood.
7. Answer the chapter application questions in the Study Guide.
8. Check the answers. (The answer key for the application questions is included in the back of the Study Guide.)
9. If any answers are incorrect, review those sections in the text and the Study Guide.
10. Do not go on to the next chapter until you can answer all application questions correctly and explain their concepts fully.

Once a student has completed this text and understood it fully, he can then go on to Watts’ advanced logic text, titled, The Improvement of the Mind: A Supplement to the Art of Logic. I have not yet seen this second text, but when I do I will post a detailed description of it here.

Have I answered your curriculum questions about Logic: the Right Use of Reason in the Inquiry after Truth? If not, please ask me your question. I am sorry that I cannot tell you which curriculum to buy, but I try to describe the curriculum as completely as possible so that you can make up your mind as to which are best suited for your children.

Order Logic: the Right Use of Reason in the Inquiry after Truth

Order Logic: the Right Use of Reason Study Guide

The Improvement of the Mind: a Supplement to the Art of Logic

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