“Evidence” is one of the most used words in public life and one of the most abused. People say “the evidence proves it,” “there’s no evidence,” or “the evidence is overwhelming,” often without any clear standard for what counts as evidence, how evidence supports a conclusion, and what kinds of mistakes can mimic support. Logic […]

Logic is often pictured as a brittle machine: rules, symbols, and proofs. Paradox seems like the enemy of that machine. If logic is the study of valid inference, and paradox is a contradiction or impossibility, then paradox looks like the point where logic breaks. A better view is that paradox is where logic becomes most […]

Logic is often treated as a school subject: syllogisms, symbols, proof tricks. That picture misses the most important thing logic does. Logic shapes habits—habits of attention, honesty, and responsibility in how we think and how we judge. Logic is not identical to morality, but it shapes moral and intellectual life because it governs what counts […]