If-Then, What?

Liberty Common students are taught using a curriculum rooted in classical education, which fosters analytical thinking through the study of philosophy and the liberal arts, alongside a strong foundation in science and engineering. On the surface, these fields may seem worlds apart, but they converge in their shared reliance upon rigorous, logical reasoning.

 

As a podcast enthusiast, I’m constantly searching for shows to expand my knowledge (and help sharpen my Monday-night-trivia skills). One of my go-to favorites is Everything Everywhere Daily, where the host tackles — as the title suggests — a wide variety of fascinating topics, every day.

 

Last year, I stumbled upon an older episode entitled “Formal Logic.” The description of the podcast starts out, “Located in the area between philosophy and mathematics is the realm of logic.” With no formal background in math or philosophy, the concept of formal logic was unfamiliar to me, but after listening to the 12-minute episode, I was intrigued enough to explore more on the subject.

 

If you are unfamiliar with the phrase like I was, formal logic is like math for arguments. Developed by Aristotle, it is a way of making sure how we argue or reason is structured in a way that makes sense. Think of it like a checklist for making sure you're not jumping to conclusions or contradicting yourself.

 

A basic example of formal logic argues:

In formal logic, you use deductive reasoning and you follow the premises to reach a formal conclusion. This exercise in reasoning forms the bedrock of structured thought.

 

I was so captivated with this seemingly basic idea, I told my husband Brandon all about the podcast episode. After hearing my rather clumsy attempt to explain formal logic, he said, “That sounds exactly like what I do every day with coding.” 

 

Although I’m no programmer myself, I know the basics. One of the clearest applications of formal logic in programming lies in the use of if-then statements, also known as conditionals. These statements allow a program to make decisions based on specific conditions, much like how we reason in everyday life. For example, imagine a store opens at 9 AM and closes at 5 PM. If the current time is between 9 AM and 5 PM, the store is open. Otherwise, it's closed.

 

This logic mirrors a typical conditional in programming: If the current time is between the opening and closing hours, then the store is open. Else, it is closed. This structure ensures the program runs different actions depending on whether certain conditions are true or false, much like how we draw conclusions based on premises in formal logic.

 

Understanding the structure of arguments, whether in a Socratic dialogue or a line of code, teaches us to think critically and methodically. These are the very skills we need to build not just knowledge, but wisdom. In today’s world, where information is abundant and often contradictory, the ability to discern, analyze, and apply knowledge systematically is perhaps more crucial than ever.

 

A communications professional with no education in philosophy or computer programming may not seem like the ideal person to write about formal logic. However, despite my lack of experience in these areas, I rely on technology every day and strive to see how my work aligns with the broader philosophy of the school and find connections between my work and the school’s mission.  It is also what inspired the desire to create Liberty Common School's own podcast, Common Knowledge.

 

This fusion of classical wisdom with contemporary disciplines like engineering and technology allows students to not only understand how systems work, but why they work. It encourages a mindset of creativity grounded in structure, where innovation is tempered by analysis, and curiosity leads to discovery—guided by logic and reason. Just as formal logic forms the bedrock of rational discourse and coding forms the backbone of our digital world, these modes of thinking shape the way we learn, create, and ultimately contribute to society.

 

It’s in this space—between philosophy and mathematics, between classical education and modern technology—where the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and leaders is forged.