Logical Paradigm Theory

The study of the dominant, foundational frameworks that define what constitutes valid reasoning, proof, and truth within a given system of logic. It examines competing logical paradigms—like classical bivalent logic, intuitionistic logic, fuzzy logic, or paraconsistent logic—each with its own rules about contradiction, the excluded middle, and what counts as evidence. Shifting from one logical paradigm to another isn't just a tweak; it’s a revolution in what is considered thinkable and provable, changing the very terrain of rational argument.

Example: The move from classical logic (where a statement is either true or false) to fuzzy logic (where truth is a matter of degree) represents a Logical Paradigm Theory shift. In classical logic, "This soup is hot" is binary. In fuzzy logic for a thermostat, it can be 0.7 true, allowing for nuanced control that binary logic can't handle, fundamentally changing how we engineer and reason about systems.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Logical Metaparadigm Theory

The study of the most fundamental stances one can take toward the entire enterprise of logic. It asks: Is logic a description of the structure of reality, a prescription for correct thinking, or merely a useful convention? Paradigms here include realism (logic discovers mind-independent truths), conventionalism (logic is a set of human conventions), and psychologism (logic is derived from the laws of thought). Your logical metaparadigm is your philosophy of logic.

Logical Metaparadigm Theory Example: A Logical Realist believes that the Law of Non-Contradiction (nothing can be both true and false) is a bedrock fact about the universe. A Logical Conventionalist sees it as a useful rule we've agreed to play by, like the rules of chess. Their Logical Metaparadigm determines whether they think logic is discovered or invented.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Logical Picking

The fallacy of constructing a logical argument (syllogism, deduction) that is formally valid but begins with premises that are themselves cherry-picked, biased, or arbitrarily defined to force a desired conclusion. It's the illusion of sound reasoning built on rigged foundations. You follow the rules of logic perfectly, but you started the game with a stacked deck of premises. The argument is valid, but not sound.

Logical Picking *Example: Premise 1 (Cherry-picked): Major cities run by Party X have high crime rates. Premise 2 (Arbitrary): High crime is the only metric of governance. Conclusion (Logically picked): Therefore, Party X is inherently bad at governance. The logic is flawless, but the premises ignore cities' unique contexts and all other governance metrics, like education or infrastructure.*

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Logical Biases

Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in the application of logical rules, often driven by emotion, worldview, or cognitive shortcuts. This isn't about formal fallacies, but about the biased choices we make within logic: which premises we accept, which inferences we draw, and which counter-arguments we entertain. It's the subjectivity hidden inside the objective shell of logic.

Logical Biases Example: Two people see the same data on tax cuts. One, with a pro-market logical bias, immediately infers it will stimulate investment. The other, with an equity-focused logical bias, infers it will increase inequality. The same logical tool (inference from data) is wielded to different ends based on prior ideological commitments.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Logical Metabiases

Biases in how we select, apply, and trust different systems of logic themselves. This is a bias about your philosophical toolbox. For instance, a preference for crisp, binary logic (true/false) in situations requiring fuzzy or probabilistic reasoning, or the bias of dismissing an entire line of argument because it uses a logical framework (e.g., dialectics, abduction) you're not comfortable with.

Logical Metabiases Example: An engineer, steeped in deterministic, Boolean logic, dismisses a sociologist's dialectical analysis of social change as "illogical." This is a Logical Metabias. The engineer is biased against a whole form of reasoning appropriate for complex, contradictory systems, falsely believing their own logical paradigm is universally supreme.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026