logic

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: log=ic

CIDE DICTIONARY

logic, n. [OE. logike, F. logique, L. logica, logice, Gr. logikh` (sc. te`chnh), fr. logiko`s belonging to speaking or reason, fr. lo`gos speech, reason, le`gein to say, speak. See Legend.].

•  The science or art of exact reasoning, or of pure and formal thought, or of the laws according to which the processes of pure thinking should be conducted; the science of the formation and application of general notions; the science of generalization, judgment, classification, reasoning, and systematic arrangement; the science of correct reasoning.  [1913 Webster]

  " Logic is distinguished as pure and applied. “Pure logic is a science of the form, or of the formal laws, of thinking, and not of the matter. Applied logic teaches the application of the forms of thinking to those objects about which men do think.” Abp. Thomson."  Abp. Thomson.  [1913 Webster]

  "Logic is the science of the laws of thought, as thought; that is, of the necessary conditions to which thought, considered in itself, is subject."  [1913 Webster]
•  A treatise on logic; as, Mill's Logic.  [1913 Webster]
•  correct reasoning; as, I can't see any logic in his argument; also, sound judgment; as, the logic of surrender was uncontestable.  [PJC]
•  The path of reasoning used in any specific argument; as, his logic was irrefutable.  [PJC]
•  A function of an electrical circuit (called a gate) that mimics certain elementary binary logical operations on electrical signals, such as AND, OR, or NOT; as, a logic circuit; the arithmetic and logic unit.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

logic, n.
1 a the science of reasoning, proof, thinking, or inference. b a particular scheme of or treatise on this.
2 a a chain of reasoning (I don't follow your logic). b the correct or incorrect use of reasoning (your logic is flawed). c ability in reasoning (argues with great learning and logic). d arguments (is not governed by logic).
3 a the inexorable force or compulsion of a thing (the logic of events). b the necessary consequence of (an argument, decision, etc.).
4 a a system or set of principles underlying the arrangements of elements in a computer or electronic device so as to perform a specified task. b logical operations collectively.

Derivative

logician n.

Etymology

ME f. OF logique f. LL logica f. Gk logike (tekhne) (art) of reason: see LOGOS

DEVIL DICTIONARY

logic

n. The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding. The basic of logic is the syllogism, consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion -- thus:
_Major Premise_: Sixty men can do a piece of work sixty times as quickly as one man.
_Minor Premise_: One man can dig a posthole in sixty seconds; therefore --
_Conclusion_: Sixty men can dig a posthole in one second.
This may be called the syllogism arithmetical, in which, by combining logic and mathematics, we obtain a double certainty and are twice blessed.

THESAURUS

logic

Aristotelian logic, Boolean algebra, Ramistic logic, admissibility, aesthetics, algebra of classes, algebra of relations, axiology, casuistry, common sense, cosmology, deduction, dialectic, dialectics, doctrine of inference, doctrine of terms, epistemological logic, epistemology, ethics, experimental logic, first philosophy, formal logic, gnosiology, good sense, intelligence, judiciousness, justifiability, justness, logicality, logicalness, logics, logistic, material logic, mathematical logic, mental philosophy, metaphysics, moral philosophy, ontology, phenomenology, philosophastry, philosophic doctrine, philosophic system, philosophic theory, philosophical inquiry, philosophical speculation, philosophy, plausibility, practicality, presence of mind, propositional calculus, psychological logic, psychologism, ratiocination, rationality, reason, reasonability, reasonableness, reasoning, school of philosophy, school of thought, science of being, sense, sensibleness, set theory, sophistry, sound sense, soundness, sweet reason, theory of beauty, theory of knowledge, value theory, wisdom

ROGET THESAURUS

logic

Reasoning,

N reasoning ratiocination rationalism, dialectics, induction, generalization, discussion, comment, ventilation, inquiry, argumentation, controversy, debate, polemics, wrangling, contention, logomachy, disputation, disceptation, paper war, art of reasoning, logic, process of reasoning, train of reasoning, chain of reasoning, deduction, induction, abduction, synthesis, analysis, argument, case, plaidoyer, opening, lemma, proposition, terms, premises, postulate, data, starting point, principle, inference, prosyllogism, syllogism, enthymeme, sorites, dilemma, perilepsis, a priori reasoning, reductio ad absurdum, horns of a dilemma, argumentum ad hominem, comprehensive argument, empirema, epagoge, reasoner, logician, dialectician, disputant, controversialist, controvertist, wrangler, arguer, debater polemic, casuist, rationalist, scientist, eristic, logical sequence, good case, correct just reasoning, sound reasoning, valid reasoning, cogent reasoning, logical reasoning, forcible reasoning, persuasive reasoning, persuasory reasoning, consectary reasoning, conclusive, subtle reasoning, force of argument, strong point, strong argument, persuasive argument, arguments, reasons, pros and cons, reasoning, rationalistic, argumentative, controversial, dialectic, polemical, discursory, discursive, disputatious, Aristotelian, eristic, eristical, debatable, controvertible, logical, relevant, for, because, hence, whence, seeing that, since, sith, then thence so, for that reason, for this reason, for which reason, for as, inasmuch as, whereas, ex concesso, considering, in consideration of, therefore, wherefore, consequently, ergo, thus, accordingly, a fortiori, in conclusion, in fine, finally, after all, au bout du compt, on the whole, taking one thing with another, ab actu ad posse valet consecutio, per troppo dibatter la verita si perde, troppo disputare la verita fa errare.