Brian D. Skelly

Logic Between the Lines : Making Philosophical Sense of Logic and Logical Sense of Philosophy Brian D. Skelly Revised First edition

Logic Between the Lines: Making Philosophical Sense of Logic and Logical Sense of Philosophy aims to reintegrate the teaching of logic across the disciplines by presenting it in a strategic manner that combines formal aspects with teleological (purpose-driven) applications. It addresses the challenge of teaching logic in modern academia, where it has been fragmented and taught in various specialized forms across different departments. Part I, Teleological Logic, explores logic's relevance in science, philosophy, and life, covering topics such as critical thinking, rhetoric, consciousness, objectivity, and moral dimensions.

Part II, Formal Logic, delves into propositional logic, predicate logic, and other formal systems, discussing their underpinnings and applications in various fields. The book gives ample attention to Aristotelian logic, explaining its full complexity, integrating it with modern logic, and applying it to contemporary thought. The book also devotes five chapters to Venn Diagram analysis of quantified argument forms and propositions, extending its use both to argument forms of three or more premises to argument forms of four or five terms.

The revised first edition features 25 new diagrams and minor edits throughout the chapters. Logic Between the Lines is suitable for higher education courses in philosophy, particularly those focusing on critical thinking and logic. It can serve as a standalone text for a critical thinking course that includes an introduction to formal logic or as a supplementary text alongside a more technical formal logic course.