1) What is Logic?

Logic – The study of methods for evaluating whether the premises of an argument
adequately support its conclusion. It is the organized body of knowledge, or Science
that evaluate arguments and aims to develop a system of methods and principles
that we my use as criteria for evaluating the arguments of others and as guides in
constructing arguments of our own.
2) What is the distinction between logical and critical thinking?
Critical thinking
– It is the careful application of reason in the determination of whether a claim
is true. It is tool of human beings in making better judgement. Critical
thinking is identifying, analyzing and evaluating claims, issues, and
arguments. Critical thinking is a process of evaluation which uses logic to
separate truth from falsehood, reasonable from unreasonable beliefs.
– Critical thinking is a type of thinking pattern that requires people to be
reflective, and pay attention to decision-making which guides their beliefs and
actions. Critical thinking allows people to deduct with more logic, to process
sophisticated information and to look at various sides of issues, so that they
can produce more solid conclusions.
– Critical thinking has seven critical features : being inquisitive and curious,
being open-minded to different sides, being able to think systematically,
being analytical, being persistent to truth, being confident about critical
thinking itself, and lastly, being mature.
Logical thinking
– It is the process in which one uses reasoning consistently to come to a
conclusion. Problems or situations that involve logical thinking call for
structure, for relationships between facts, and for chains of reasoning that
“make sense”. Logical thinkers observe and analyze phenomena, reactions,
and feedback and then draw conclusions based on that input. They can
justify their strategies, actions, and decisions based on the facts they gather.
– Logical thinking consisted of understanding the connections between two
concepts or points in thought. It followed a philosophy where
the thinker  was removed from the train of thought and the connections and
the analysis of the connect was devoid of any bias of the thinker. 
– There are three types of logical reasoning:
 Deduction – is the conclusion drawn from the structure of an
argument’s premises, by use of rules of inference formally those of
propositional calculus.
e.g. X is human; All humans have a face; X has a face
  Abduction – is drawing a conclusion using a heuristic that is likely,
but not inevitable given some foreknowledge.
e.g. I observe sheep in a field, and they appear white from my
viewing angle, so sheep are white.
Contrast with the deductive statement: "Some sheep are white on at
least one side."
 Induction – is drawing a conclusion from a pattern that is guaranteed
by the strictness of the structure to which it applies.
e.g. The sum of even integers is even.
Let x, y, z € Z then 2x, 2y, 2z are even by definition. 2x + 2y = 2 (x +
y) = 2z which is even so summing two even numbers results in an
even number.

3) Think of ways by which logical and critical thinking can be applied in different
contexts (say school, government, family, etc.)
Logical Thinking applied in school:
- Math Lessons – problem solving
- Activities such as Mazes, puzzle solving
Applied in work/workplace (career)
- the decision-making process has fewer mistakes.
- They also tend to increase your capability of being creative because you tend to
make as many logical connections, across subjects, as possible.
- Conducting market research tests to gauge consumer reaction to a new product
prior to devising an advertising strategy.
- Developing a recruiting profile for new sales representatives based on an
assessment of the qualities of the company's most productive sales
representatives.
- Recommending a strategy for quitting smoking after reviewing the latest studies
on smoking cessation.
- Analyzing reviews by restaurant customers prior to structuring training protocols.
- Surveying employees about their preferences for employee benefits before
finalizing contracts with vendors.
- Soliciting feedback from users about their experience with software prior to
creating the next generation.
- Deciding whom to designate as team leader after comparing the past evidence of
leadership behaviors by prospective candidates.
- Interviewing departing employees to uncover patterns of unwanted turnover.
- Reaching out to colleagues at other organizations to discover high-impact
practices prior to finalizing strategy for the next cycle.
 - Creating campaign slogans based on an assessment of hot-button issues for
potential voters.
- A contractor recommending extra insulation, high-efficiency heating, cooling
equipment and appliances, and a passive solar design to a customer who wants
the most energy-efficient home possible.
- Employers seek candidates with a track record of logical thinking because it
ensures a smooth decision-making process.
Critical thinking is the process of examining, analyzing, questioning, and
challenging situations, issues, and information of all kinds. We use it when we raise
questions about:
 Survey results
 Theories
 Personal comments
 Media stories
 Our own personal relationships
 History
 Scientific research
 Political statements
 And (especially) conventional wisdom, general assumptions, and the
pronouncements of authority
 People (hiring decisions)
Critical thinking is an important tool in solving community problems and in
developing interventions or initiatives in health, human services, and community
development.

4) Give and explain your idea on how Logic can make this world a better place.
Logic is a universal part of the human experience — agriculture would be impossible
without inductive reasoning about weather and sunlight, and construction would be
impossible without mathematics and deductive reasoning about what makes a
structure sturdy. Traders and travelling scholars may have brought ideas about
logical reasoning with them all over the world, allowing for rapid development of
new ideas. Logic may seem like a stuffy, abstract discipline used only by
philosophers and lawyers, but it has had a profound influence on the history of
science and technology as well. Through inductive reasoning, police solve crimes
smoothly by putting up the together the pieces of evidence and developed a theory
about what probably had happened in a particular crime. If all of us will always
practice logical thinking, then this world will be peaceful because all of us will have
sound judgment and right decision; no one will be doomed into injustice and
discrimination therefore we will all live happily.
One thing we can do is as parents, we are tasked with instilling a plethora of
different values into our children. While some parents in the world choose to instill a
lack of values in their kids, those of us that don't want our children growing up to be
criminals and various misfits try a bit harder. Values and morality are one piece of
the pie. These are important things to mold into a child's mind, but there are also
other items in life to focus on as well. It starts with looking both ways to cross the
street and either progresses from there, or stops.
The rationality of the world is what is at risk. Too many people are taken advantage
of because of their lack of critical thinking, logic and deductive reasoning. These
same people are raising children without these same skills, creating a whole new
generation of clueless people. Kids of today grow up lacking the simple problem
solving skills that make navigating life much easier. We should as parents, taught
our children of logic and reasoning by making them solve simple problem on their
own. Let us give them the opportunity to solve simple to complex problem on their
own to help them develop their logical and critical thinking skills. The best thing we
can do is teach these thought processes to our children, so that they may look at
other children with looks of bewilderment when other children are unable to solve
simple tasks. Hopefully, they will not simply do the task for them, but teach them to
think. Some of these kids will be the next leader of their nations, so practicing them
and teaching them to think logically will make them a good decision maker. They
will possess sound judgment and will never be bias; and these are the good qualities
a leader must possess.