“Generally, our decision making involves the mind (or the brain) sensory mechanism, perception, cognition and the expression of results. We often will feel, perceive, think, remember and reason in an adaptive conscious and unconscious manner. In our daily lives, when we are faced with problems or just  a situation which require a decision, we are often reminded to apply logic and reasoning for the most desired results. Hence, this is a basic reason why logic and reason are so essential in our lives. But there are other reasons. The emphasis we are often reminded of is the theoretical, philosophical or moral in our decisions.                                            

Logic is generally based on deduction which is a method of exact inference. It is a study of correct reasoning that consist of language and reasoning. Reasoning practically in our daily lives involves deciding what to do and when successful, issuing in an intention. Importantly, we are to remember that a problem of reasoning about actions is given in terms of an initial situation, a terminal situation, a set of feasible actions, a set of constraints and such alike. As we take each step by step thought and action, we are reminded to do so logically and with good reasons for best results. In addition, we often apply common sense in our daily routine.

Common sense determines what we do, regardless of what we think. Common sense is a key factor for acting in our real world. For if we use logic alone, we would probably be able to take only a few actions a day. Common sense helps us to deal with the complexity of the real world. Common sense provides a shortcut to making critical decisions very quickly. An applying common sense sometimes will produce the desired results when we need to make a decision quickly, but not always – Common Sense.

When faced with moral questions in our daily lives, sometimes we act instinctively and sometimes we pause to reason about what we ought to do. But we are to be more consistent in our thinking and actions. If we are faced with a situation of great importance, such as whether to accept what some refer to as a dangerous job like fire-fighting or policing, or to attend college instead, there are normally three possibilities that are to be explored to discover alternative decision-making solutions.

They are: The possibility that the situation circumstances may be comparable to others we have faced, but since dissatisfaction occurred with the results of actions in those previous cases, our decision may necessitate investigating other alternatives; the current problem is seen as somehow different enough from past cases, that examination of options available is warranted; portions of situations are recognized as having been dealt with either successfully or unsuccessfully, but there are additional new elements in the current problem at hand. Hence, how can we combine previous successes to produce desired results for the present will need to be determined. 

From all of this, we should commence a sequence of activities involving: defining the problem to be solved, or establishing the circumstances of the decision to be made; generating a list of possible alternative actions; evaluating, as best as possible, the relative risks, costs and benefits associated with the various options available; and carry-out the alternative(s) chosen at the most appropriate time. As we conduct the above, we will receive feed-back leading to possible reviews on what actions are available, and there relative merits and drawbacks – Decision Support Systems: Introduction at www.danpatch.ecn.purdue.edu. Since we may not be experts of the situation we are facing, we will often seek the professionals reasoning and advise.    Experts are those who, because of the training and experience they possess, are able to do things we often cannot do. They are not only proficient, but smooth and efficient in the actions they take. Experts will plow through our irrelevant information to get at the essential issues and are good at recognizing problems they face as familiar instances. If our own logic and reasoning are insufficient, those of experts will often help. Another important aspect of Logic and Reasoning is Philosophical Logic and Reasoning and the importance of this in our lives. This is essential in General Problem Solving: It helps us to analyze concepts, definitions, arguments and problems, and contributes to our capacity to organize ideas and issues to deal with questions of value.     

Communication Skills: Here our skills will be enhanced as we are able to present ideas through well-constructed systematic and reasoned arguments. Persuasive Powers: We will learn to build and defend our own views, to appreciate competing positions, and to indicate forcefully why we consider our own views preferable to alternatives. Writing Skills: Philosophical Logic and Reasoning teaches us interpretive writing through its examination of challenging texts, comparative writings through emphasis on fairness to alternative positions, argumentative writing through detailed portrayal of concrete examples and others. These are very important reasons why logic and reasoning matter in our daily lives. They can be applied in the trained academic person life, or to the normal individual who has a desire to analyze the issues facing him/her before making a final crucial decision.” * 

Logic and Common Sense on the other hand are also quite related to each other. I will give an example. Mang Berto has a son working abroad. It happened one day that his son sent a package containing soaps, canned goods, beauty products, chocolates and cigarettes. One day, the family decided unpacked those goods. They decided to eat the corned beef that was sent to them. Before opening the can, he accidentally discovered the expiration date, and it says that the expiration date was 03/03/2007.  Upon reading it, he is quite very regretful to out that corned beef on the trash can so after thinking twice he decided to it with his family. What do you think will happen to Mang Berto and his family?  At first we can consider this example as such a ridiculous but tragic story. Most of the time, we use our mind thinking not for good ends but intentional mistakes. I said this because this is happening. We are actually rationalizing not for the logical aspect but the other way around.

Common Sense is very helpful to us. It will help to think logically and truthfully. Tragic accidents, chaotic scenarios and numerous follies are happening because we tend to become illogical. Maybe, on the story that I mentioned, Mang Berto is thinking that his son will not send them those canned goods if it is already expired, but he never thought that maybe also, his son did not carefully what he had sent to them.

Another good example is this maxim: “Whenever you see the tail of the snake, never look for its head.” Isn’t that it is true? If we are used to think using our common sense we would be from erroneous and fallacious courses of reasons and actions. Why? Because being a human and created by God with His own image and likeness we are actually very different from any other creatures because we are logicians by nature that is we have our own capacity to think and do corresponding good actions. \but oftentimes this is not happening. It is true that we are rational, meaning that we are thinking, yes but, unfortunately we are not using our minds the way it should be.

Logic and commonsense is a very good tandem. It will definitely make our lives to be more meaningful and useful. By applying common sense we will become extremely different from animals. We will become good thinkers because we are going to be critical, analytic and effective when it comes to thinking. The problem sometimes is that we tend to become lazy and irresponsible. Although we know what might happen, we are keeping to choose our own way not in a logical way. With regards to that, mental lethargy is also our favorite excuse why we do not do things as they should be. We keep on telling to our mind that we cannot do this or that because are born to be foolish or we cannot do this or that because we are not learned persons or simply we are not capable on doing such.

By using logic, correct reasoning and commonsense, we can really make a difference. By doing so, we can be genius. One psychologist once said that “We are all born to be genius.” And I believe in that because we are created with different talents and gifts. The only way we can do this is to enhance those. Would you believe that even retarded persons, those who have Down’s syndrome and also those are autistic that we consider as abnormal also have logic? How much more to us normal persons? I think that if all of us are trying to strive better to become logicians we can make a better place to live in. How good to see and feel that we are living on a world, even though imperfect, have full of correct thinking, pure thoughts and common sense. It is a heaven on the face of earth, isn’t it?

As a generalization, logic is correctly defined as a science and art of correct thinking and reasoning. Correct reasoning is valid and correct if it goes to the truth. Commonsense on the other hand is something that is easily perceived by our mind. These three will help us to become good logicians while living on this world. These three will help us to think purely and correctly. With these three, we will become worry free because we know that are capacity to think is guided by the reality of processing the truth.

We must remember that while we are living on this world, we must be able to search the truth all the time. Searching the truth is our primordial task to liberate ourselves to the falsities that the world have. “A thing is good if it is use on its purpose.” That’s why, if we are logical enough we can be useful that we can think ways or processes that will eventually lead us to the truth and be freed from the snares of deception.

 

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By: Romeo Q. Locson Jr. | Barangay Secretary to the Sangguniang Brgy. of Camachile