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You use logical reasoning from simple problem solving during your work to being a jury member in court, it’s a cognitive skill we benefit from is all kinds of situations. Logic is also one of the most important factors when measuring someone’s IQ during an IQ-test. Although logical reasoning is finding the most reasonable solution to a problem, how logical reasoning works can be quite a bit more complex than that. In this article, we’ll explain you everything you need to know about the logical reasoning.
Logical reasoning is the process of using rational and systematic series of steps to come to a conclusion for a given statement. The situations that ask for logical reasoning require structure, a relationship between given facts and chains of reasoning that are sensible. Because you have to study a problem objectively with logical reasoning, analysing is an important factor within the process.
Logical reasoning starts with a proposition or statement. This statement can be both true or false.
Logical reasoning, in combination with other cognitive skills, is an important skill you use during all kinds of daily situations. It helps you make important decisions, discern the truth, solve problems, come up with new ideas and set achievable goals. Logical reasoning is also an important aspect of measuring intelligence during an IQ-test.
Logical reasoning can be divided into deductive-, inductive- and abductive reasoning. While inductive reasoning starts with a specific instance and moves into a generalized conclusion, deductive reasoning goes from a generalized principle that is known to be true to a specific conclusion that is true. And abductive reasoning is making a probable conclusion from what you know.
We’ll explain each type of logical reasoning further:
With inductive reasoning, a number of specific observations lead to a general rule. With this method, the premises are viewed as supplying some evidence for the truth of a conclusion. With inductive reasoning, there is an element of probability. In other words, forming a generalization based on what is known or observed.
While this sounds like the theory you will use during a debate or discussion, this is something you do every day in much simpler situations as well.
We’ll explain this type of logical reasoning with an example:
There are 28 balls within a basket, which are either red or white. To estimate the amount of red and white balls, you take a sample of four balls. The sample you took, exists out of three red and one white ball. Using good inductive generalization would be that there are 21 red and 7 white balls in the basket. As already explained, the conclusion drawn from his type of reasoning isn’t certain but is probable based on the evidence given (the sample of balls you took).
Questions which require to perform inductive reasoning are a part of IQ-tests. An example of a little more complex question like just explained with the balls is the one of the image below. To come to a conclusion to solve this problem, both inductive reasoning and pattern recognition skills are required. Looking at the sequence of tiles with different patterns of dots, which tile should be on the place of the question mark? A, B, C, D, E or F?
With deductive reasoning, factual statements are used to come to a logical conclusion. If all the premises (factual statements) are true, the terms are clear and all the rules of deductive logic are followed to come to a conclusion, then the conclusion will also be true. In this case, the conclusion isn’t probable, but certain.
Deductive reasoning is also known as “top-down” logic, because it (in most cases) starts with a general statement and will end with a specific conclusion.
We’ll explain deductive reasoning with an example, with 2 given premises:
It’s dangerous to drive while it’s freezing (premise 1)
It is currently freezing outside (premise 2)
So, we now know that it is dangerous to drive when it is freezing, and it is currently freezing outside. Using deductive reasoning, these two premises can help us form necessarily true conclusion, which is:
It is currently dangerous to drive outside (conclusion)
Situations in which you use deductive reasoning can come in many forms, such as mathematics. Whether you are designing your own garden or managing your time, you use deductive reasoning while doing math daily. An example is solving the following math problem:
All corners of a rectangle are always 180° (premise 1)
The following rectangle has one right angle, which is always 90° (premise 2)
The second angle is 60° (premise 3)
How much degrees is the third angle (X)?
To answer this question, you can use the three premises to come to the conclusion how much degrees the third hook is. The conclusion should be 180° (premise 1) -90° (premise 2) - 60° (premise 3) = 30° (conclusion)
With abductive reasoning, the major premise is evident but the minor premise(s) is probable. Therefore, defining a conclusion would also make this conclusion probable. You start with an observation, followed by finding the most likely explanation for the observations. In other words, it is a type of logical reasoning you use when you form a conclusion with the (little) information that is known.
An example of using abductive reasoning to come to a conclusion is a decision made by a jury. In this case, a group of people have to come to a solution based on the available evidence and witness testimonies. Based on this possibly incomplete information, they form a conclusion.
A more common example is when you wake up in the morning, and you head downstairs. In the kitchen, you find a plate on the table, a half-eaten sandwich and half a glass of milk. From the premises that are available, you will come up with the most likely explanation for this. Which could be that your partner woke up before you and left in a hurry, without finishing his or her breakfast.
As previously mentioned, the different types of logical reasoning (inductive, deductive and abductive) help you to form conclusions based on the current situation and known facts. This very closely correlates to problem-solving, as finding the most probable solution to resolve a problem is a similar conclusion.
Logical thinking, and thereby problem solving, goes through the following five steps to draw a conclusion and/or find a solution:
Collecting information about the current situation. Determining what the current problem is, and what premises apply. Let’s say you want to go out for a drive, but it’s freezing outside.
Analyzing this information. What information is relevant to the situation, and what isn’t. In this case, the fact that it’s freezing is relevant for your safety on the road. The fact that you might get cold isn’t, as you’d be in your car.
Forming a conclusion. What can you conclude from this information? The roads might be more dangerous because it’s freezing.
Support your conclusion. You might look at traffic information to see that there have been more accidents today, in which case, that supports the conclusion that driving is more dangerous today.
Because there are so many different situations in which you use logical thinking and problem-solving, this isn’t a cognitive skill you can train specifically. Luckily, there are many methods that might help you to improve your logical thinking skills. These include methods to keep your general cognitive abilities healthy as well as methods to train your logical thinking skills. These are:
Learning something new
Exercising
Social interaction
Healthy nutrition
Ensure enough sleep
Avoid stress
Preferably no alcohol
Spend time on creative hobbies
Practice questioning
Try to anticipate the outcome of your decisions
Brain training to challenge your logical reasoning skills
