Blog Response 3

To assess the words of Benjamin Jowett, who said “Logic is neither a science nor an art, but a dodge,” one must define science and art.

Science is generally accepted as knowledge based on facts that come from direct observations and experiments. Science is precise; it deals with life and questions in a systematic manner. Art is slightly more difficult to define – art takes its surroundings and observations and produces a thing in it of itself. Art does not claim to be sterile and fair, it is often imbedded with personal opinions and judgments based on intangible ideas such as aesthetics. The “art” of producing something, be it a painting, a sonnet, or a family strives towards an intangible ideal that can vary from individuals and cultures.

Assuming that Jowett defines art and science in a somewhat similar way, you now know that logic is not these things. It does not necessarily depend upon hard facts or the appealing nature of things. Unlike science, logic does not need to be experiment in order to prove theories. Unlike art, logic has no humane aspect that responds to stimuli and beauty.

One could argue against Jowett and say that logic is indeed a science and an art. Logic, as we all witnessed when testing syllogisms, can employ a set of standards or laws. In order for a statement to be logical and therefore valid, it must be preceded by two premises. The three statements have to meet certain requirements in a fashion similar to science which also must meet certain requirements – for example, all experiments must have independent, dependent, and control variables in order to be valid and prove something. Logic can be considered an art because it is a way of making sense of the world around you in a neat fashion. It responds to events and applies a unique approach to making sense.

I think the point of Jowett’s words is that by using logic, you conclude nothing and produce nothing. Rather than sticking to the factual side of information or more emotionally charged information, you waver in between by using logic. Logic can be seen as an excuse or cop out because a methodical approach is applied but there is no true meaning or evidence behind the logic. Science has the support of facts, experiments, concrete evidence to support it and help it hold weight. Art and the art of action have such an intangible humanness to it that it can impress ideas on others and also comes with a personal satisfaction. Logic offers none of these things, it is rather a dead end or a dodge in that the person employing logic fails to reach a decision.