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Material & Formal Logic - PDF

Logic can be either formal or material. Formal logic is valid if the structure of the argument conforms, while material logic is valid if the thought content and meanings are true. An argument stating "a stone is hard" is materially valid because stones are indeed hard, while arguments like "stones are soft" are invalid as they do not match reality. However, all three follow the subject-predicate structure and are thus formally valid. Both matter and form contribute to the validity of actual reasoning.

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976 views1 page

Material & Formal Logic - PDF

Logic can be either formal or material. Formal logic is valid if the structure of the argument conforms, while material logic is valid if the thought content and meanings are true. An argument stating "a stone is hard" is materially valid because stones are indeed hard, while arguments like "stones are soft" are invalid as they do not match reality. However, all three follow the subject-predicate structure and are thus formally valid. Both matter and form contribute to the validity of actual reasoning.

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Venice izza Venancio
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Material and Formal Logic

On the basis of validity of reasoning logic is either formal or material. Logic is formal
when the basis of validity of reasoning is conformity with the structure, pattern or
arrangement of the constituent parts of correct argument. But logic is material when
the basis of validity of argument is the thought content or the meaning and truth of the
statement involved in thinking and reasoning. An argument is materially valid when the
ideas therein conform with fact or reality.

An argument which states that “a stone is hard object,” is materially valid because in
reality, a stone is, in fact, hard. To argue, however, that “stones are soft objects” or
“elephants are small animals” is wrong because the arguments are materially invalid
because they do not conform with reality. All three statements or arguments are
formally valid because they all follow the subject-predicate pattern or structure of a
declarative sentence.

In actual reasoning, both matter and form are involved. They are both intimately
intertwined and at times are seemingly inseparable. Consider the following statements
or arguments:

1. All cats are animals.


2. Orchids are plants.
3. Humans are mortal beings.
4. Water is a liquid substance.
5. Filipinos are orientals.

Note: All the five statements are genuinely valid because in matter and form, or in
content and structure, they are all valid. In short, they are both materially and
formally valid.

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