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logic
This term carries a clinical, cold connotation, suggesting a process that is detached from emotion or intuition. It implies a linear progression where one point leads inevitably to the next, creating a sense of structural rigidity and intellectual certainty.
In casual conversation, calling someone's logic "faulty" is a direct critique of their mental process rather than their opinion. It is frequently used in technical, mathematical, and philosophical environments to describe the internal consistency of a system regardless of whether that system reflects reality.
Uncountable when referring to the academic study of reasoning. Countable when referring to a specific line of reasoning or a particular set of rules in a computer program.
Meanings
Examples
The logic of the legal case was flawed.
I cannot follow the logic behind your decision.
Collocations & Compounds
flawless logic
Noun collocation: reasoning that is perfect and contains no errors
Her argument was based on flawless logic.
internal logic
Noun collocation: the consistent set of rules within a specific system or story
The movie's plot lacks internal logic.
formal logic
Noun collocation: the study of inference with precisely defined structures
Students of philosophy often begin by studying formal logic.
follow the logic
Verb collocation: to understand the sequence of reasoning
It was difficult to follow the logic of the complex legal brief.
apply logic
Verb collocation: to use systematic reasoning to solve a problem
We need to apply logic to determine the most efficient route.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek word "logikē," which is the feminine form of "logikos," meaning pertaining to reason. This stems from "logos," a multifaceted term meaning word, reason, or discourse. It entered English via Old French and Latin, evolving from a philosophical study of the laws of thought into a general term for systematic reasoning.