Critical Thinking & Logic

Logic CurriculumLogic Resources

Dad said it all the time: "Use your head!" It's generic advice, but it applies to every situation. Whether you've heard a riveting sermon, voted for the next president, or need to fix the kitchen sink, thinking about things is the best way to live successfully and with a minimum of bad decisions.

There's more to clear thinking than down home wisdom and "common sense," however. Those are important, but there's something even more fundamental that too often is overlooked: Logic. The fact that so many people misuse it shouldn't deter us from studying or understanding the crowning subject in Classical education, or from using it on a daily basis.

The thing about logic is that, if you begin properly and follow its very intuitive guidelines, it's so logical. At the same time, it's incredibly easy to get off track, to make mistakes, to commit fallacies. The more you know about logic and the more you practice it, the fewer errors you make and the clearer your thinking becomes.

Logic is the study of the principles of good reasoning: putting true statements together to form true conclusions, or taking apart bad arguments to demonstrate poor thinking. Systematic study of logic has become rare, but as Christians we hold it to be a vital element of a good education.

Interpreting biblical doctrine, discerning good from bad, applying the principles of Christianity to our daily lives—all these require logic (and the power of the Holy Spirit, of course). Put more succinctly, Christ called us to imitate Him, and He was eminently logical. Often, His critiques of the Pharisees were logic-based interpretations of the very Scriptures they stubbornly misinterpreted.

In our own day, men like N.T. Wright, Tim Keller, and Peter Kreeft have dedicated themselves to doggedly defending the faith through reason, constructing and dismantling arguments in light of God's Word. They're heirs to a long and respected tradition of Christians engaging society on every level, a tradition seemingly falling into disrepute in these postmodern times.

Our prayer is for that tradition to regain its status, not only in the world at large, but specifically among Christians themselves. The idea that the Holy Spirit will give us the right words to say when the time comes to defend our faith is only partly true; Christ expects us to strive to follow Him. The Christian life is a succession of battles in a larger war, and to think we can rush into the fighting (or simply stroll through the chaos) without proper training and armament is foolishness.

Properly studied and used, logic remains one of the Christian's most valuable weapons in the fight against secularism and the Devil, who only uses logic destructively. We teach our children good critical thinking intentionally, understanding that we aren't raising mere scholars, we're raising the next generation of Kingdom warriors to fight the powers of darkness in Jesus' name.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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99 Items found Print
Active Filters: 9th grade (Ages 14-15)
Adorable Fallacy - Flashcards
by Douglas Wilson & N.D. Wilson
from Canon Press
for 6th-Adult
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$12.00
Amazing Dr. Ransom's Bestiary of Adorable Fallacies
by Doug & N.D. Wilson
from Canon Press
for 8th-Adult
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$23.99
Analogies 2
by Arthur Liebman
from Educators Publishing Service
for 9th-10th grade
in EPS Analogies (Location: LOG-EPS)
$12.79 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Analogies for All of Us
by Marc Hays
from Classical Conversations
for 7th-9th grade
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$24.99
Argument Builder - Student Text
by Shelly Johnson
from Classical Academic Press
for 8th-11th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$28.95
Argument Builder - Teacher's Edition
by Shelly Johnson
from Classical Academic Press
for 8th-11th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$29.95 $17.50 (2 in stock)
Art of Argument - Bundle
Revised Edition from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$130.38
Art of Argument - DVD Set
by Aaron Larsen & Joelle Hodge
from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$85.95 $49.00 (2 in stock)
Art of Argument - Flashcards
by Aaron Larsen & Joelle Hodge
from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$12.95
Art of Argument - Student Text
by Aaron Larsen & Joelle Hodge
2nd edition from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$28.95
Art of Argument - Student Text (old)
by Aaron Larsen & Joelle Hodge
Version 7.0 from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Old Edition Logic (Location: ZCLE-LOG)
$22.00
Art of Argument - Teacher's Edition
by Aaron Larsen & Joelle Hodge
2nd edition from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$29.95
Art of Argument - Teacher's Edition (old)
by Aaron Larsen & Joelle Hodge
Version 7.0 from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Old Edition Logic (Location: ZCLE-LOG)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Art of Practical Debate
by Grace Lichlyter, Teresa M. Moon
1st edition from Institute for Cultural Communicators
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
Basics of Critical Thinking
by Michael O. Baker
from Critical Thinking Books
for 4th-9th grade
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$25.99
Building Thinking Skills Book 3 Figural
by Sandra Parks & Howard Black
from Critical Thinking Books
for 7th-Adult
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Building Thinking Skills (Location: LOG-BTS)
$29.99
Building Thinking Skills Book 3 Verbal
by Sandra Parks & Howard Black
from Critical Thinking Books
for 7th-Adult
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Building Thinking Skills (Location: LOG-BTS)
$36.99 $21.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student
by Edward P. J. Corbett, Robert J. Connors
4th edition from Oxford University
for 9th-Adult
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
Classical Rhetoric through Structure and Style
by Adam Muller
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 9th-12th grade
in IEW Advanced Materials (Location: WRI-IEWADV)
$35.00
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - Basic Set
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$99.41
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - DVD Set
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$55.00
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - Quizzes and Tests
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$6.00
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - Student Workbook
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$29.95
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - Teacher Key
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$11.50
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle w/ Answer Key (old)
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
Critical Thinking Detective Beginning
from Critical Thinking Books
for 3rd-Adult
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$9.99
Critical Thinking Detective Book 1
Critical Thinking Detective
from Critical Thinking Books
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$9.99
Critical Thinking Detective Book 2
Critical Thinking Detective
by Michael Baker
from Critical Thinking Books
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$9.99
Critical Thinking Detectiveâ„¢ Math Beginning
from Critical Thinking Books
for 5th-12th grade
in Critical Thinking Math (Location: MAT-CTP)
$10.99
Critical Thinking High School Bundle
from Critical Thinking Books
for 9th-12th grade
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$297.77
Crypto Mind Benders: Classic Jokes
by Nile Duppstadt II
from Critical Thinking Books
for 3rd-12th grade
in Mind Benders (Location: LOG-CTMB)
$10.99
Crypto Mind Benders: Famous Quotations
by Nile Duppstadt II
from Critical Thinking Books
for 3rd-12th grade
in Mind Benders (Location: LOG-CTMB)
$10.99
Daily Mind Builders - Language Arts
by Jennifer Gottstein
from Critical Thinking Books
for 5th-12th grade
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$16.99
Daily Mind Builders - Science
by Jennifer Gottstein
from Critical Thinking Books
for 5th-12th grade
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$16.99
Daily Mind Builders - Social Studies
by Jennifer Gottstein
from Critical Thinking Books
for 5th-12th grade
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$16.99
Discovery of Deduction - Student Text
by Aaron Larsen, Joelle Hodge
from Classical Academic Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$31.95
Discovery of Deduction - Teacher's Edition
by Aaron Larsen, Joelle Hodge
from Classical Academic Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Classical Academic Press Logic (Location: LOG-CAP)
$34.95 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Dr. Funster's Visual Mind Benders B1
by Sandra Parks & Howard Black
from Critical Thinking Books
for 7th-9th grade
in Dr. Funster & Dr. Dooriddles (Location: LOG-DR)
$3.99
Dr. Funster's Word Benders C1
from Critical Thinking Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Dr. Funster & Dr. Dooriddles (Location: LOG-DR)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Everyday Debate & Discussion
by Shelly Johnson
from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$31.95
Everyday Debate & Discussion - Teacher Guide
by Shelly Johnson
Tch from Classical Academic Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$34.95
Fallacy Detective - Workbook Edition
by Hans & Nathaniel Bluedorn
Workbook from Christian Logic
for 6th-10th grade
in Christian Logic (Location: LOG-CHR)
$32.00
Figures of Speech
by Arthur Quinn
from Hermagoras Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
Intermediate Logic - DVD (with Brian Kohl)
by Instructor: Brian Kohl
3rd edition from Canon Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$75.00
Intermediate Logic - Student Textbook
by James Nance & Douglas Wilson
3rd edition from Canon Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
Intermediate Logic - Teacher Edition
by James Nance & Douglas Wilson
3rd edition from Canon Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$32.00
Intermediate Logic - Test & Quiz Packet
by James Nance & Douglas Wilson
3rd edition from Canon Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$10.00
Intermediate Logic DVD Package
by James Nance
3rd edition from Canon Press
for 9th-12th Grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$116.80
Introduction to Logic
by Jason Lisle
from Master Books
for 8th-10th grade
in Logic Curriculum (Location: LOG-CUR)
Introduction to Logic - Curriculum Pack
from Master Books
for 6th-10th grade
in Logic Curriculum (Location: LOG-CUR)
Introduction to Logic - Teacher Guide
by Jason Lisle
from Master Books
for 8th-10th grade
in Logic Curriculum (Location: LOG-CUR)
$21.59
Introductory Logic - DVD (with Brian Kohl)
by Instructor: Brian Kohl
5th edition from Logos School
for 8th-10th grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$75.00
Introductory Logic - Student Text
by James Nance & Douglas Wilson
5th edition from Canon Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$29.00
Introductory Logic - Teacher Edition
by James Nance & Douglas Wilson
5th edition from Canon Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$32.00
Introductory Logic - Test & Quiz Packet
by James Nance & Douglas Wilson
5th edition from Canon Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$10.00 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Introductory Logic DVD Package
by James Nance & Doug Wilson
5th edition from Canon Press
for 8th-10th Grade
in Introductory & Intermediate Logic (Location: LOG-CAN)
$116.80
James Madison Critical Thinking Course
by William O'Meara & Daniel Flage
from Critical Thinking Books
for 9th-Adult
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$39.99 $25.00 (1 in stock)
James Madison Critical Thinking Course - Instruction/Answer Guide
by William O'Meara & Daniel Flage
from Critical Thinking Books
for 9th-Adult
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$10.99 $6.00 (3 in stock)
Journey
by Peter Kreeft
from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Philosophy (Location: XWV-PHI)
Life of Fred: Logic
by Stanley F. Schmidt, Ph. D
from Polka Dot Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$49.00
Mastering Logic & Math Problem Solving
by Terri Husted
from Critical Thinking Books
for 6th-9th grade
in Critical Thinking Math (Location: MAT-CTP)
$19.99
Mastering Logical Fallacies
by Michael Withey, Foreword by Henry Zhang
from Zephyros Press
for 9th-Adult
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$13.99
Material Logic
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$29.95 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Material Logic - Answer Key
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$1.95 $1.40 (1 in stock)
Material Logic - DVD
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$45.00 $29.00 (1 in stock)
Memoria Traditional Logic I - Bundle
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
Memoria Traditional Logic II - Bundle
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
Mind Benders A4
by Anita Harnadek
from Critical Thinking Books
for 2nd-Adult
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Mind Benders (Location: LOG-CTMB)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Mind Benders B1
by Anita Harnadek
from Critical Thinking Books
for 7th-Adult
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Mind Benders (Location: LOG-CTMB)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Mind Benders Book 5
by Anita Harnadek
from Critical Thinking Books
for 6th-Adult
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Mind Benders (Location: LOG-CTMB)
$10.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Mind Benders Book 6
by Anita Harnadek
from Critical Thinking Books
for 6th-Adult
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Mind Benders (Location: LOG-CTMB)
$12.99
Mind Benders Book 7
by Anita Harnadek
from Critical Thinking Books
for 8th-Adult
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Mind Benders (Location: LOG-CTMB)
$12.99
Mind Benders Book 8
by Anita Harnadek
from Critical Thinking Books
for 8th-Adult
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Mind Benders (Location: LOG-CTMB)
$12.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Office of Assertion
by Scott F. Crider
1st edition from Intercollegiate Studies Institute
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Instruction (Location: WRI-INS)
$15.00
Pattern Explorer Level 2
by Darin Beigie
from Critical Thinking Books
for 7th-9th grade
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$14.99
Persuasions
by Doug Wilson
from Canon Press
for 9th-Adult
in Beginning Christian Apologetics (Location: XAP-BEG)
$12.00
Practical Critical Thinking
from Critical Thinking Books
for 9th-12th grade
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$39.99
Practical Critical Thinking - Teacher's Manual
from Critical Thinking Books
for 9th-12th grade
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$14.99
Red Herring Mysteries Level 2
by Thomas Camilli
from Critical Thinking Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$14.99 $10.00 (2 in stock)
Rhetoric
by Aristotle
from Dover Publications
Ancient Greek Philosophy for 9th-Adult
in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC)
$8.00
Skills for Rhetoric - Set
by James P. Stobaugh
from Master Books
for 8th-12th grade
in Master Books Literature (Location: LITCUR-MB)
Smarty Pants Puzzles - Level 1
by Catherine Connors-Nelson
from Critical Thinking Books
for 3rd-12th grade
in Critical Thinking Series (Location: LOG-CTS)
$11.99
Thinking Toolbox
by Nathaniel & Hans Bluedorn
from Christian Logic
for 6th-10th grade
in Christian Logic (Location: LOG-CHR)
$32.00
Thinking Toolbox
by Nathaniel & Hans Bluedorn
Workbook Edition from Christian Logic
for 6th-10th grade
in Christian Logic (Location: LOG-CHR)
Traditional Logic I
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Old Edition Logic (Location: ZCLE-LOG)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
Traditional Logic I - DVD Teacher
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$55.00
Traditional Logic I - Quizzes & Final Exam
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$6.00
Traditional Logic I - Teacher Key
by Martin Cothran
3rd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$11.50 $7.00 (2 in stock)
Traditional Logic I - Text
by Martin Cothran
3rd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$15.75 $9.50 (2 in stock)
Traditional Logic I - Workbook
by Martin Cothran
3rd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$18.40
Traditional Logic II (old)
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Old Edition Logic (Location: ZCLE-LOG)
$18.00
Traditional Logic II - DVD Teacher
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$55.00 $31.00 (1 in stock)
Traditional Logic II - Quizzes & Final Exam
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$6.00
Traditional Logic II - Teacher Key
by Martin Cothran
2 Blg from Memoria Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$11.50
Traditional Logic II - Textbook
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$15.75
Traditional Logic II - Workbook
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Logic & Rhetoric (Location: LOG-MP)
$18.40
Trivium Tables: Rhetoric
from Classical Conversations
for 7th-12th grade
in Classical Conversations (Location: CUR-CC)
$12.00 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Wakeful Words
by Jen Greenholt
from Classical Conversations
for 6th-12th grade
in Words Aptly Spoken (Location: LITCUR-WAS)
$14.99
What Would You Do? Book 2
by Michael Baker
from Critical Thinking Books
for 6th-12th grade
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$8.99