Introduction to Logic
Description
Introduction to Logic
This course introduces the classical science of logic as an instrument for the correction of thought. Beginning with the traditional definition of logic as “an instrument governed by rules whose observance protects the mind from error in thought,” the course examines why logic was regarded as indispensable for philosophy, theology, law, and the rational sciences more broadly. Students will learn how logic regulates the movement from what is known to what is unknown, clarifies the distinction between conception (taṣawwur) and assent (taṣdīq), and provides the foundations for sound definition and valid argument.
The course begins with a careful study of the preliminaries of logic, including the subject, aim, benefit, and rank of the science. It then examines the parts of the sciences: subjects, principles, and questions, showing how each science is organized around what it seeks to establish. Special attention is given to the relation between logic and other disciplines, the status of logic as an instrumental science, and the traditional debate over whether logic is concerned only with form or also with content.
The course also explains how the five arts—demonstration, dialectic, rhetoric, poetry, and fallacy—classify arguments according to the content of their premises. Students will be introduced to the classical architecture of logic: the five universals, definition, propositions, syllogism, and the five arts. The course clarifies the role of primary and secondary intelligibles, the meaning of formal and content-based reasoning, and the way logic prepares the student to study the higher sciences.
By the end of the course, students will have a clear map of the logical tradition and a firm foundation for entering its technical questions in a systematic and specialized manner.
Introduction to Logic (8 Weeks)
The Instrument of Correct Thought
Week 1 — What Is Logic?
Topics: The definition of logic, logic as an instrument governed by rules, the correction of thought, error in thinking, and the need for logical discipline
Week 2 — Logic as an Instrumental Science
Topics: Instrumental and independent sciences, logic’s relation to philosophy, theology, law, and the sciences, and the role of logic in acquiring unknowns from knowns
Week 3 — Conception and Assent
Topics: Taṣawwur and taṣdīq, conceptual knowns and knowns of assent, conceptual and assent-based unknowns, definition and argument
Week 4 — The Subject and Aim of Logic
Topics: The subject matter of logic, definition and argument, logical secondary intelligibles, the aim and benefit of logic, and the place of logic among the sciences
Week 5 — The Parts of the Sciences
Topics: Subjects, principles, and questions; essential accidents; conceptual and assent-based principles; common axioms, postulates, and disputed assumptions
Week 6 — Form and Content in Argument
Topics: Form and content in syllogistic reasoning, formal logic, content-based evaluation, the structure of argument, and the relation between propositions and syllogisms
Week 7 — The Classical Architecture of Logic
Topics: The five universals, definition, propositions, syllogism, analogy, induction, and the organization of the logical sciences
Week 8 — The Five Arts and the Map of Logic
Topics: Demonstration, dialectic, rhetoric, poetry, and fallacy; the classification of arguments by their premises; the eight traditional headings; and preparation for the technical study of logic
Texts
Akram Almajid, Philosophical Investigations: Logic (al-Manṭiq), Sage Press, 2026, forthcoming.
Primary course text. All readings and discussions are structured around this work.
Prerequisites
No prior background in logic, philosophy, religious studies, or technical terminology is required. The course is designed for beginners who seek clarity and depth, while maintaining conceptual rigor and intellectual discipline throughout.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Define logic as an instrument for the correction of thought and explain its role among the sciences.
Distinguish between conception (taṣawwur) and assent (taṣdīq).
Explain how logic regulates the movement from knowns to unknowns.
Understand the difference between form and content in argument.
Identify the basic structure of definition, proposition, syllogism and argument.
Recognize the five arts—demonstration, dialectic, rhetoric, poetry and fallacy—and explain how they classify arguments according to their premises.
Understand why logic is considered an instrumental science and how it prepares the student for philosophy, theology, law and the rational sciences.
Read introductory logical texts with greater precision and conceptual clarity.
Readings
Assigned readings are drawn primarily from the course text and are selected to support careful understanding rather than technical specialization. Readings are to be completed prior to each session and serve as the conceptual foundation for lecture and discussion.
Class Structure
Each class meets for ninety minutes, with approximately fifty minutes devoted to structured lecture and forty minutes to discussion and questions. Lectures are designed to build progressively, ensuring continuity and conceptual grounding across the eight-week course.
Q&A Protocol
Students may submit questions during class via Zoom’s chat function or “raise hand” feature. Questions may be addressed during the lecture when appropriate or reserved for the discussion portion of the session.
Follow-Up
Students are welcome to contact the instructor outside of class for clarification, further discussion, or guidance on related readings and study pathways.
Course Details
Instructor
Professor Mukhtar Ali
Dates
Starting July 3
Fridays
Time
12pm - 1:30 pm EST
Location
ZOOM
Tuition:
Monthly Membership:$100
How to Register
To enroll, click the Register button below and complete the online checkout process. Once registration is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email with access details and course information.
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