Final answer:
Logic is the study of reasoning and aims to formalize and describe the processes used to arrive at claims. It involves recognizing that claims are the product of arguments, where the claims are conclusions and the preceding sentences are premises that provide evidence for the conclusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Logic is the study of reasoning and aims to formalize and describe the processes used to arrive at claims. It involves recognizing that claims are the product of arguments, where the claims are conclusions and the preceding sentences are premises that provide evidence for the conclusion. Arguments have two components: the conclusion (what an arguer wants people to believe) and the premises (the reasons offered to support the conclusion).
Logical statements can be conditionals or universal affirmative statements, which express logical relations of necessity and sufficiency. Evaluating arguments involves assessing their truth and logic. Logical assessment determines whether the premises support the conclusion.
Formal techniques can be used to evaluate arguments and assess whether claims are well supported. These techniques are covered in the chapter on logic and reasoning. By using logic, claims can be assessed for their validity and consistency to determine if they are well founded.