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Jason Mathias

Is a logical opinion a thing?

I saw someone say this on FB today.

Person 1 shares conspiracy theory video.

Person 2 fact checks the misinformation and says,  "its a conspiracy theory."

Person 1 says, "it’s only a conspiracy if it’s false."

Person 2 says,  "No, thats not true. A conspiracy theory (whether true or false) is a logical fallacy and thats why its not valid. 
Logical Form:
A is true.
B is why the truth cannot be proven.
Therefore, A is true."

Person 1 says, "One day we will have the truth to finish the logic. For now we can only have a logical opinion."

asked on Friday, May 08, 2020 08:33:22 AM by Jason Mathias

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Bo Bennett, PhD
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There is a difference between a conspiracy theory the Conspiracy Theory fallacy. Person 1 is certainly wrong by claiming "it’s only a conspiracy if it’s false" as they just don't seem to understand the definition. But person 2 appears to be engaged in Equivocation by switching from the conspiracy theory to the conspiracy theory fallacy. If the video did, indeed, commit the fallacy (see the link) then this would be less of a problem for person #2.

I don't know what "One day we will have the truth to finish the logic. For now we can only have a logical opinion" is supposed to mean. Seems like a misuse of "logic" in general. Perhaps one day we will have all the facts and be able to confirm or debunk the theory (if not already), but we have more than just opinion now... we can still follow the evidence where it leads (via the reasoning process). If one wants to label this "opinion," fine, but it should be make clear that all opinions are not equally reasonable.
answered on Friday, May 08, 2020 08:52:59 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD

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Jason Mathias writes:

"I don't know what "One day we will have the truth to finish the logic. For now we can only have a logical opinion" is supposed to mean."

Person 2, "One day we will have the truth to finish the logic" 

I think is what is meant by this is that one day in the future when more data comes out that person 2  will then be able to fill in the logical form/syllogism of the conspiracy theory fallacy that person 1 presented.

Person 2, "For now we can only have a logical opinion." 

I think that person 2 thinks that "logical" means whatever makes sense to them must mean its logical. I don't think person 2 really knows the difference between logic, opinion, truth and facts. 

So for me, this response brought up the question of can an opinion ( a judgment formed not based on fact or knowledge) be logical ( according to the rules of logic)? 

posted on Friday, May 08, 2020 09:16:58 AM
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Jason Mathias writes:

Can a logical opinion exist? 

Do all logical fallacies violate the 3 laws of logic? If so, is that what makes them fallacies? 

posted on Friday, May 08, 2020 10:20:16 AM
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Bo Bennett, PhD writes:
[To Jason Mathias ]

Again, I don't what a "logical opinion" is... an opinion based on logic? It sounds like they are using "logic" in the casual sense of "good reasoning."

I don't know any fallacies that violate the laws of logic... maybe some deductive/formal ones. Fallacies are errors in reasoning. There is no hard-defined criteria for informal fallacies. I define the way I use in my book (I take a few pages to do it).

[ login to reply ] posted on Friday, May 08, 2020 10:23:58 AM
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Jason Mathias writes:

[To Bo Bennett, PhD]

"It sounds like they are using "logic" in the casual sense of "good reasoning."

Does "logic" in the casual sense even have any real meaning? For example, how can one know what good reasoning is if they know nothing of logical fallacies, formal logic or laws of logic? All they have to determine what is or isnt good reasoning is their own conformation biases and other biases. There is no methodology, rules or discipline holding constraining their biases. 

[ login to reply ] posted on Friday, May 08, 2020 02:00:01 PM
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Bo Bennett, PhD writes:
[To Jason Mathias ]

When people say something like "it's not logical for me to spend money on that new car when I have so many bills to pay," there are no laws of logic involved nor formal logic/fallacies. They are simply saying it doesn't make sense. They a demonstrating a subconscious reasoning process where they are making evaluations like we all do. Again, they are just using the term in a casual, non-academic way.

[ login to reply ] posted on Friday, May 08, 2020 02:04:35 PM