Whether regarded as a science, an art, or a skill–and it can properly be regarded as all three–logic is the basis of our ability to think, analyze, argue, and communicate. Indeed, logic goes to the very core of what we mean by human intelligence. In this concise, crisply readable book, distinguished professor D. Q. McInerny offers an indispensable guide to using logic to advantage in everyday life. Written explicitly for the layperson, McInerny’s Being Logical promises to take its place beside Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style as a classic of lucid, invaluable advice. As McInerny notes, logic is a deep, wide, and wonderfully varied field, with a bearing on every aspect of our intellectual life. A mastery of logic begins with an understanding of right reasoning–and encompasses a grasp of the close kinship between logical thought and logical expression, a knowledge of the basic terms of argument, and a familiarity with the pitfalls of illogical thinking. Accordingly, McInerny structures his book in a series of brief, penetrating chapters that build on one another to form a unified and coherent introduction to clear and effective reasoning. At the heart of the book is a brilliant consideration of argument–how an argument is founded and elaborated, how it differs from other forms of intellectual discourse, and how it critically embodies the elements of logic. McInerny teases out the subtleties and complexities of premises and conclusions, differentiates statements of fact from statements of value, and discusses the principles and uses of every major type of argument, from the syllogistic to the conditional. In addition, he provides an incisive look at illogical thinking and explains how to recognize and avoid the most common errors of logic. Elegant, pithy, and precise, Being Logical breaks logic down to its essentials through clear analysis, accessible examples, and focused insights. Whether you are a student or a teacher, a professional sharpening your career skills or an amateur devoted to the fine points of thought and expression, you are sure to find this brief guide to effecting reasoning both fascinating and illuminating.

无论被视为一门科学、一门艺术，还是一种技能вЂ"，它都可以被恰当地视为三种вЂ"，逻辑是我们思考、分析、争论和交流能力的基础。事实上，逻辑是我们所说的人类智慧的核心。在这本简明扼要、可读性强的书中，著名教授D.Q.McInerny提供了一份不可或缺的指南，让我们在日常生活中利用逻辑来发挥优势。麦金纳尼的《做一个有逻辑的人》是专门为普通人写的，它有望成为与斯特伦克和怀特的《风格要素》并驾齐驱的经典之作，提供清晰而宝贵的建议。正如麦金纳尼所指出的，逻辑是一个深刻、广泛和奇妙的领域，与我们智力生活的各个方面都有关系。掌握逻辑始于对正确推理的理解вЂ"，包括对逻辑思维和逻辑表达之间密切关系的把握，对论证基本术语的了解，以及对非逻辑思维的陷阱的熟悉。因此，麦金纳尼将他的书结构为一系列简短而有深度的章节，这些章节彼此相辅相成，形成一个统一的、连贯的、清晰而有效的推理介绍。本书的核心是对论证的精彩思考†"论证是如何建立和阐述的，它与其他形式的智力话语有何不同，以及它如何批判性地体现了逻辑要素。麦金纳尼阐明了前提和结论的微妙性和复杂性，区分了事实陈述和价值陈述，并讨论了每一种主要论证类型的原则和用途，从对偶论到条件论。此外，他还对不合逻辑的思维进行了精辟的分析，并解释了如何识别和避免最常见的逻辑错误。优雅、精炼、精确，《做个有逻辑的人》通过清晰的分析、易懂的例子和重点突出的见解，将逻辑学分解到其本质。无论你是学生还是教师，是磨练职业技能的专业人士，还是致力于思考和表达的业余爱好者，你一定会发现这本关于有效推理的简短指南既吸引人又有启发性。