Logic+and+Cognition

=__Logic and Cognition__=

==

Reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity: "experience is a better guide to this than deductive logic". (Dictionary.com, 2011)
====In other words, cognition is all forms of mental activites that you are aware of and have control over. Cognition and logic are very closely related in that logic is what is used in problem solving. Problem solving is a prime example of cognition. Below is a video showing how young children use deductive reasoning. This is a prime example of how logic is used in cognition.==== media type="youtube" key="YJyuy4B2aKU" height="315" width="420"

**__ Inductive Reasoning: __**
-Based on probabilities -Not solid conclusions -Uses evidence at hand to generalize -Relatively abstract -Uses past experiences to glean information

Inductive reasoning is a lot more difficult for people to understand, however, it is the most often used type of reasoning. Most of our real life situations in which we need to use reasoning and problem solving skills involve inductive reasoning. The best was to utilize inductive reasoning is through analogical problem solving. This is the process by which one creates an analogy between their current situation and information that they have from past situations to solve a problem. Another key piece of information involved in inductive reasoning is mental sets. A mental set is a preexisting state of mind, habit, or attitude that can enhance the quality and speed of percieving and problem solving under some conditions. (Zimbardo, 2005). While it __ Example: __ You are going to a movie theater wanting to see the latest hit movie. You do not order a ticket in advanced and are worried that the movie will be sold out. When you arive, you notice that many kids your age are walking away from the theater looking dissappointed. The line in front of the theater is extremely long and the staff look extremely frantic. You conclude that the movie is sold out.


 * __ Deductive Reasoning: __**

- Follows specific algorithms or rules - Tries to draw valid conclusions given certain circumstances Deductive reasoning is heavily rooted in logic. Psychologsts have spent a lot of time and money trying to figure out whether we are born with deductive reasoning skills. This is the type of reasoning that people are most familiar with. There is also something called the belief-bias effect. This effect describes how people tend to find reasoning and conclusions more valid when they can find a real world application for it.

**__ Problem Solving: __**
Problem solving relies on coherence which is the understanding and recognition of the obstacle at hand and a problem’s varying forms of complexity and the brain often employs several kinds of mental representations in order to arrive at the most logical solution: symbols, matrices, diagrams, and visual imagery. (Fulcher, 2009) Obstacles derive from a set of conclusions that do not lead to the most logical conclusions and efficiency at problem solving comes from the ability to correctly acknowledge and avoid these falsities. Ability to do so can rely heavily on the creativity of an individual, however this can also be substituted with the use of an algorithm which is a solid formula with which a correct conclusion will be inevitably reached.

media type="youtube" key="jI_zjWssn2g" height="315" width="420" ====Problem solving is the most direct and obvious way in which cognition and logic relate. When one solves a problem they ususally use some sort of logic. Problem solving is also a fantastic example of cognition in that people have to be aware of their own thoughts.====

__** Problem Solving Examples: **__
__ Algorithms/ Heuristics: __

- A specific procedure that you can follow that will always produce the correct answer to a specific problem. - Algorithms are a great example of ways that logic plays into cognition. - Heuristics are rules or strategies that one can use to solve problems - Heuristics often come in the form of logical information that people have from prior knowledge and experience.

__ Algorithm Examples: __ Pythagorean Theorum: a^2+b^2=c^2

Area of a Triangle 1/2bh=a

Both of these algorithms are equations that one could solve and get correct answer each time.

__ Heuristics Examples: __ Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? One could assume that it probably isn't the newborn baby because there is no way that he or she could crawl on top of the countertop.

This example shows how one could use logic or prior knowledge to solve a problem. This is different from an algorithm because you aren't getting the same answer every time.

Works Cited:

Zimbardo, P. G. (2005). //Psychology and life//.

John, S. (n.d.). Mission critical [Online forum comment]. Retrieved from []