How can you create a logical reasoning framework from scratch?

1 Identify the question

The first step in creating a logical reasoning framework is to identify the question or problem that you want to address. This will help you focus your thinking and avoid irrelevant or distracting information. The question should be specific, clear, and answerable. For example, instead of asking "Is democracy the best form of government?", you could ask "What are the advantages and disadvantages of democracy compared to other forms of government?". By identifying the question, you will also determine the type and scope of your argument, such as descriptive, normative, causal, or comparative.

3 Construct the argument

Constructing an argument is the third step in creating a logical reasoning framework. This will help you present your position, reasons, and evidence in a logical and persuasive way. The argument should be structured, coherent, and relevant. For instance, you could use the following format: start with a thesis that is clear, concise, and debatable; follow with premises that are valid, sound, and well-supported by evidence; provide reliable, relevant, and sufficient facts, data, examples, or sources to back up your premises; and conclude with a summary or restatement of your thesis that is consistent, convincing, and clear. For example, one might argue that democracy is the best form of government because it promotes freedom, equality, and accountability. This could be supported by evidence such as the World Values Survey which shows countries with higher levels of democracy tend to have higher levels of freedom of speech, association, and religion. Therefore, democracy can be seen as the best form of government because it promotes freedom, equality, and accountability.

4 Assess the validity

The fourth and final step in creating a logical reasoning framework is to assess the validity of your argument. This will enable you to identify and tackle any potential flaws, weaknesses, or counterarguments that could weaken your argument. The truth of your premises and the strength of your inference will determine the validity of your argument. To assess the validity, you should ask questions such as: are your premises true or false? Are they sufficient or insufficient? Does your conclusion follow or not follow from your premises? You should also consider any assumptions, limitations, exceptions, fallacies, biases, distortions, alternative explanations, perspectives, or implications that affect your premises and conclusion. By following these steps, you can create a logical reasoning framework from scratch that will help you analyze and evaluate arguments based on evidence and logic. Such a framework is an invaluable tool for honing and refining your analytical skills across numerous domains and contexts.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?