A Class Room Logic / Deductive and Inductive, with Special Application to the Science and Art of Teaching

by George Hastings McNair

1. ARGUMENTS OF FORM AND MATTER.

The matter relative to the syllogism treated in chapters 11, 12 and 13 is given primarily to enable the reader to test the validity of categorical arguments. Such arguments must be viewed from the two standpoints of form and matter, since it is one of the chief purposes of logic to enable the student to detect fallacious reasoning, no matter how subtly it may be concealed. Therefore, that one may gain marked facility in this kind of work, it becomes necessary to proceed with thoroughness and confidence. The meaning of arguments and the various material fallacies may be treated later; but we are now equipped with sufficient knowledge and experience to test the validity of arguments from the viewpoint of form.