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Introduction to Logic - Critical Thinking

Name: Introduction to Logic - Critical Thinking
Rating: 4.0 (33 reviews)

A powerful course in Logic. Mind opening on several aspects of Logic.

Created byMaurizio Bisogno

Last updated 1/2026

English

What you'll learn

In this fist series of lessons you will learn to appreciate the traditional logic, the structure of good arguments, the principle on which logic is based.
We will focus also on practical applications and the relationships between Logic and Philosophy.
Introduction to critical thinking: Defining critical thinking and its importance in philosophy and everyday life.
The structure of arguments: Understanding the components of an argument, including the premises and the conclusion, and how to identify and evaluate them.

Course content

6 sections • 27 lectures • 4h 17m total length

The Birth of Reason12:05
"The Unseen Architecture of Thought: An Audio Journey Through Logic" is a video that traces the origins of logical reasoning from the bustling agora of ancient Athens to its enduring relevance in today’s world. Through vivid storytelling, it invites you to walk alongside Socrates and Aristotle—not as distant historical figures, but as guides to a timeless discipline. This audio/video experience reveals logic not as a dry academic exercise, but as a living, human practice: a structured, compassionate way of building truth, resisting manipulation, and thinking with integrity in an age of noise and confusion
Practice Test: “The Unseen Architecture of Thought"

Definition of Critical Thinking1:51
Critical thinking is often defined as "the process of evaluating and analysing information and arguments in order to make informed and well-reasoned decisions."
Introduction3:11
What is Logic?9:59
Irving Copi gives a great insight on what is Logic.
Arguments in Logic6:23
We have said that logic has to do with arguments; in particular it aims at separating correct arguments from incorrect ones.
Today, let’s look at some terms used in logic.
How to Construct an Argument11:00
You need to know how to structure your argument in many situations: when you are writing a book review or a criticism, when you have to write a plan for re-routing highway traffic through your city, or a report at work, or... you name it.
The Three Methods of Reasoning8:05
Three methods of reasoning are the deductive, inductive, and abductive approaches.
Meaning and Context8:38
Words play a crucial role in conveying meaning and ideas.
The multiple meanings of words and the rules for effective reading and interpretation of texts.
· The two rules enhance understanding, promote accurate interpretation, and prevent misattributions or misinterpretations.
· Effective reading and interpretation skills are valuable in academic, personal, and professional contexts.
The Fallacy of Equivocation6:58
The fallacy of equivocation serves as a reminder of the importance of careful reasoning and critical analysis in evaluating arguments. By recognizing and understanding this fallacy, we can enhance our ability to identify flawed reasoning and avoid being misled by deceptive arguments.
The Fallacy of Amphibology5:49
There are many fallacies in our arguments. We are going to examine another fallacy today, the Fallacy of Amphiboly (From the Greek, "both sides, double" "speech").

The Basic of Syllogism2:46
The 4 Types of Propositions in a Syllogism5:22
The Square of Oppositions11:42
The Concept of Distribution7:22
This video aims at defining the concept of distribution and at its importance for deciding of a valid syllogism.
Example of Syllogism3:27
Understanding the structure of a Syllogism12:37
The Practical Syllogism17:49
This is maybe the most interesting part of the course for those interested in application of logic to action
What is "Implication" in Logic?10:30
Today we are going to explain what is implication in Logic. We use implication in everyday life but are we using it in the same way Logic does? When we say ‘if we press that switch, the light goes on’ we establish a relation, a connection between a cause (the action of pressing on the switch) and the effect (the light-bulb is emanating light). Generally speaking this is a relation of cause and effect. I am going to show you that in Logic this relation between two propositions works somewhat differently. We start by replacing the English sentences with letters and we can say ‘if p, then q’ and, although this looks similar to the previous phrase, there is no need of establishing a cause-effect relation in this new formulation in order for it to be true. The aim of this lesson is also to show the difference between the above types of ‘if’.
The Socratic Logic, or the Logic of the Questioning Method.21:43

Inference and its modes.12:03
Some observation on the basic requirement to create an argument/proof. The five modes of the Stoic inference. Example of application to real life of modus ponendo ponens.
The Logic of Sherlock Holmes22:42
This lesson is going to be a bit different as we are going to talk about the science of deduction in Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective created by the pen of Mr. Conan Doyle.
First we will read two texts; one from A Study in Scarlet and the other one from The Sign of Four.
The first text about Dr. Watson who picks up a magazine and reads an article about the science of deduction. Dr Watson is irritated by the pretentious article and says “It is evidently the theory of some armchair lounger who evolves all these neat little paradoxes in the seclusion of his own study.” But his stupefaction reach the paroxysm when Sherlock Holmes declares: “As for the article, I wrote it myself.”
Immanuel Kant's Analytical and Synthetic Judgments8:10
A priori / A posteriori. Analytical / Synthetic.
The justification of scientific knowledge

Presentation2:50
Formal Logic and Dialectics11:36
Welcome to this course about the materialist dialectics, which we call also dialectical materialism.
As we have said in the introductory video, the logic of materialist dialectics is different from the prevailing logic thought in school.
The inner principle of the materialist logic is the following one:
There exists an inner logic of relations throughout all reality and the laws of this logic can be known and transmitted to others.
Logic is a science, in particular it is the science of the thought process.
Logicians investigate the activities of the thought process which goes on in human heads and formulate the laws, forms and interrelations of those mental process.
Formal Logic and Dialectics are two different types of logic.
The Dialectical Fundamental Law9:00
In this lecture you will learn the fundamental principle of the Dialectics.

Requirements

There are no special prerequisite for this course; you use some form of arguments every day in your life, so you have already what it takes.
This course on critical thinking based on philosophy would be suitable for a wide range of audiences, including college and university students, as well as professionals who are interested in improving their critical thinking skills. The course would be particularly relevant for students and professionals in fields that require strong analytical and problem-solving skills, such as philosophy, law, business, and politics. In addition, the course would be beneficial for anyone who is interested in deepening their understanding of philosophical concepts and ideas, or who wants to develop their ability to think critically about complex issues. The course would also be suitable for individuals who are interested in enhancing their decision-making skills and in making informed and well-reasoned choices in their personal and professional lives. Overall, the course would be most suitable for individuals who are motivated to improve their critical thinking skills and who are interested in exploring philosophical ideas and concepts in a structured and systematic way.

Description

05/01/2026 New Lecture uploaded: The Unseen Architecture of Thought: An Audio Journey Through Logic

14-07-2023 New lecture uploaded: The Fallacy of Equivocation. The fallacy of equivocation serves as a reminder of the importance of careful reasoning and critical analysis in evaluating arguments. By recognizing and understanding this fallacy, we can enhance our ability to identify flawed reasoning and avoid being misled by deceptive arguments.

Are you tired of stumbling through confusing texts and struggling to grasp their intended meanings? Do you wish there were a way to enhance your reading and interpreting skills? Look no further! Introducing "Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking," a course that will change the way you approach and understand written content.

We all know that words can have multiple meanings, leading to confusion and misinterpretation. But worry no more! Our course provides you with the tools and techniques to ensure you always grasp the correct meaning. Say goodbye to misunderstandings and hello to clarity and precision in your reading.

Did you know that there are two fundamental rules that will make of you a skilled reader and interpreter of texts? By understanding and applying these rules, you'll navigate through written material with confidence and accuracy. No more second-guessing or feeling lost amidst complex passages.

With our "Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking" course, you'll gain invaluable insights into the proper usage of words and develop a strong foundation in logical reasoning. You'll learn how to identify and analyse arguments, detect fallacies, and evaluate evidence. These essential skills will not only enhance your comprehension but also enable you to think critically and make well-informed decisions.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to unlock your ability to decide correctly in your life situations. Take the first step towards a more fulfilling and successful intellectual journey by clicking the link below to enrol in our course:

Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking

Invest in yourself and reap the rewards of improved reading comprehension, sharper analytical thinking, and a heightened ability to understand complex texts. Enrol now and embark on a transformative learning experience that will open new doors of understanding and interpretation for you.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

New video on Meaning and Context just uploaded.

Words play a crucial role in conveying meaning and ideas.
The multiple meanings of words and the rules for effective reading and interpretation of texts.
· The two rules enhance understanding, promote accurate interpretation, and prevent misattributions or misinterpretations.

· Effective reading and interpretation skills are valuable in academic, personal, and professional contexts.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

This course on critical thinking based on philosophy would be suitable for a wide range of audiences, including college and university students, as well as professionals who are interested in improving their critical thinking skills. The course would be particularly relevant for students and professionals in fields that require strong analytical and problem-solving skills, such as philosophy, law, business, and politics.

In addition, the course would be beneficial for anyone who is interested in deepening their understanding of philosophical concepts and ideas, or who wants to develop their ability to think critically about complex issues. The course would also be suitable for individuals who are interested in enhancing their decision-making skills and in making informed and well-reasoned choices in their personal and professional lives.

Overall, the course would be most suitable for individuals who are motivated to improve their critical thinking skills and who are interested in exploring philosophical ideas and concepts in a structured and systematic way.

New videos uploaded.

The first one on the Logic of Stoic is ready. The Stoics represent a milestone in the history of Logic.

"Democratic institutions require that citizens think for themselves, discuss problems freely with one another, and decide issues on the basis of deliberation and weighing of evidence. Through the study of logic we can acquire not only practice in reasoning, but also respect for reason, and thus reinforce and secure the values we prize." I.M.C.

Two new lectures added -- 20/03/2020

New resources added, check the course curriculum. 30 August 2019

NEW LECTURE ADDED: The Socratic Logic - The Elenchus. 27/04/2019

I just added a new Section: Introduction to Logic of Dialectics. Please check it out and spread the word.

Thank you for visiting this page. It feels good to have you here.

This course is updated regularly with new lessons, so you are going to get much more than you see in the present curriculum. Learning logic is about a better way to think, therefore it is about the quality of our lives. Make the most of it.

All the best, Maurizio Bisogno

Don't you use reasoning every day? Would it not be important then to be able to separate the good from the bad... arguments. Logic was first systematized by Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher who stands like a giant against time. In this course we introduce his Logic of Syllogism. Logic should be understood as a practical tool and as a way to structure the mind. Furthermore, any student in Philosophy should have at least a basic understanding of Logic.

Who this course is for:

Would you like to go a step further? Would you like to know what separates bad from good thinking? How to understand the logical structure of an arument? Some arguments seem true and are in fact false, how do you discern them? Learn to use your reason.

Introduction to Logic - Critical Thinking

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 12min

Preliminary9 lectures • 1hr 2min

The Logic of Syllogism9 lectures • 1hr 33min

The Stoic Logic2 lectures • 24min

A Step Further3 lectures • 43min

Introduction to Logic of Dialectics3 lectures • 23min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: