Logic = Needles

Aristotle came up with a theory of logic which has survived since antiquity. His Syllogistic logic is in essence a theory of inference.

Basically the gist is this... if you give a major premise and then a minor premise, then some conclusion must follow.

But there are faults in his logic. For example.. we could say that All sheep are stupid.
From this we might be able to say that some stupid things are sheep... (follow me so far??).
We should be able to conclude from the first statement, being a major premise, in conjunction with the second statement, being a minor premise, that not all stupid things are sheep. However, this is quite a wide open statement.... we could also infer that sheep are not all stupid things. So for logic to be of any use it needs to be simpler.

I much prefer to use if/then statements which we use regularly in computer language (HTML) every day. We also use it when disciplining our children.

For example: I tell Daughter #1 that: she can only horseback ride after school when there are no tests. (this is the major premise).
then she tells me that: she has a test on Thursday. (this is the minor premise).
We can conclude from these two statements that: She will not be horseback riding till after Thursday. (the conclusion).

It is giving her an understanding that there are consequences for all her actions regarding horseback riding and tests. (this is a good thing)!

The most basic of logic statements as I can figure is the basis for geometrical theory. If A = B, and B = C, then A must also = C. You can add on to this forever if you want. If A = B, and B = C, and C = D, and D = E, then.... well, you get my drift.

I applied this theory to my lost knitting needles.
Statement #1: I put my knitting needles in some container on Christmas day after admiring them.
Statement #2: There were only three possible containers... my stocking, my box and my bag.
Statement #3: Having checked two of the three and not finding my knitting needles meant that the needles must be in the last container.... (follow me so far?)
Conclusion: The final container was the bag with all of my socks... however, I had upended the bag on the 27th into my sock drawer.

Eureka!!!!! My knitting needles were in my sock drawer!!!!!

I love logic.... (I apologize to all logicians who read this and especially to Aristotle who I have the greatest respect for!)

Clear as mud?..... go here for help on logic.