Understanding Reasoning, Logic, and the Nature of Mind

Posted on Mar 9, 2025 in Philosophy and ethics

Hypothetical-Deductive Method

The hypothetical-deductive method combines empirical data with general induction and deduction consistency. It involves several distinct steps:

  1. Defining the Problem: This begins with the discovery of a problematic situation for humans.
  2. Formulation of Hypothesis: A possible explanation is proposed, which must be coherent and consistent with a scientific approach.
  3. Deduction of Consequences: Using the deductive method, the consequences of the hypothesis being true are determined.
  4. Contrasting with the Hypothesis: This step checks whether the expected consequences occur through observation and experimentation.
  5. Refuting Hypotheses: This occurs when the expected consequences are not met.
  6. Confirmation of Hypotheses: This occurs when the expected consequences are met.
  7. Getting Results: A new law or theory is formulated, a theory is confirmed, or a proposal is made.

Logic

Logic validates philosophical reasoning. It seems to have nothing to do with anything, and yet it has everything to do with everything.

Reasoning

Reasoning involves the processes by which we obtain information from known data. It comprises:

  • Premise: A group of statements expressing the baseline data.
  • Conclusion: The final statement that expresses the new information obtained from the premises.

Types of Reasoning

There are two main types of reasoning:

  • Deductive: This moves from general premises to a less general conclusion. When this type of inference is correct, the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises; if the premises are true, the conclusion cannot be false.
  • Inductive: This type of reasoning leads to a general conclusion from less general information given in the premises.

Types of Formal Logic

  • Logic Statements: This studies the formal validity of arguments, taking into account only the truth value of each statement. It treats statements as a whole and does not internally analyze the subject and predicate. Analyzing in this way, it is not possible to know what is in the structure that makes the inference valid.
  • Predicate Logic: This analyzes the internal structure of utterances, considering propositions in which a property is attributed to or predicated of the subject.
  • Class-Logic: This considers that the statements are expressions of the ties between individuals and classes. Predicates are analyzed as properties shared by individuals belonging to one class or group.

Nature of Mind

The mind encompasses phenomena, processes, and mental states. For many authors, the mind is the support of mental states, which are retained even if they go away. Therefore, the mind would be an entity that gives us continuity and identity as people. For others, the mind is not different from the set of mental phenomena. If consciousness does not take place in any mental process, the mind vanishes. Our memories allow us to recognize ourselves as people with continuity and identity over time.

Key Properties of the Mind

  • Intentionality: This is the property of our thought process to refer to something that is different. This feature is distinctive, allowing us to distinguish mental states from other states and enabling the knowledge of reality.
  • Intimacy: This is the property where mental phenomena are unobservable to other people, directly accessible to the individual who possesses them, but inaccessible to others.

Motivation

Motivations are the reasons that give meaning and help us understand the behavior of others. It is the factor that drives or pushes an individual to behave and act the way they do. The reasons tend to be states or mental processes of individual acts. Therefore, they are unobservable and can be a mystery to the external viewer who sees what the other does but does not know why.

For some authors, according to the homeostatic theory of motivation, the human being seeks primarily their balance. Therefore, when a need or a nuisance disturbs the individual, an imbalance occurs that the body reacts to in order to restore the lost order.

Human behavior has three phases:

  • Deliberation: Time to analyze and reflect on the advantages and disadvantages.
  • Decision: We choose the option that seems more appropriate.
  • Running: Take action and make our projects and decisions a reality. This phase is essential. For this phase to be successful, motivation is essential.