Logical Thinking - Is It Good or Bad?

Jean Piaget, one of the many founders of psychology identified the threshold of logical thinking in the third stages of cognitive development. At the concrete operational stage, Piaget observed that logical thinking become evident in a child’s ability to use appropriate logic. Logic is characterized by ideas, concepts, facts, judgment, reasoning, and conclusion, and is one of the fundamentals of human intelligence. I like to describe logic as a step by step analysis of problems from an objective point of view.  Highly logical thinkers are significantly smart and possess impressive decision making skills and problem solving skills such as learning mathematics. It is well known people that practice logical thinking can also become smarter.  At the same time, logical thinking has its limits based on the structural requirements, exclusion of emotional intelligence, and generalization.  


Structural Requirements

Logical thinking is associated with atheism; I think this is because of the narrow thinking involved in logic. I say this because logical thinking consists of ideas, concepts, facts, and conclusions; the reasoning of these ideas, concepts, facts, and conclusions are conducted in a step by step analytical manner.  As a result, logical thinking is narrow in the sense that logic requires structure. For example, when solving a math problem you must do it step by step using structured formulas in order to get the correct answer, there is no deviating from the structured steps and formulas if the correct answer is required. As a result some logical thinkers will only believe in tangible reality, in other words they have to see it to believe it; it is impossible if not difficult for some logical thinkers to believe in the unseen.

Emotional Intelligence and Generalization

Logic is also described as abstract thinking or a higher form of thinking; it is the ability to become emotionally independent by excluding emotions or emotional intelligence. Making judgments and decisions without any emotional attachments is a powerful tool especially for people who are emotionally challenged or suffer from depression and anxiety.  Emotions can cloud our thinking leading to poor judgment and decisions that we usually regret. Keep in mind that emotional intelligence is essential in developing healthy relationships therefore; logic by itself does have its limits. Logical thinking leads to generalization which is typically used in scientific methods of reasoning.  A general idea, concept, statement, law, principle, or proposition is applied broadly to test a hypothesis to determine generalized facts. Generalization is similar to stereotyping which we know can have a negative impact on society as a whole.

Conclusion

Without logic it would be difficult to perform simple tasks such as cooking or planning our day. Logical thinking is essential in reasoning, problem solving, and decision making processes. Logic enables us to become emotional independent so our emotions does not reek havoc in our lives. Like everything else (excluding energy), there are limits; logical thinking is limited to its structural requirements which excludes emotional intelligence. The generalization associated with logic does not account for the many other small possibilities, which in my opinion is a form of narrow thinking.  So to answer the question logical thinking, is it good or bad? It is both good and bad, there is a place and time for everything; it is all about balance.

“Too much of anything even a good thing is bad”  Origin Shakespeare