Logic, Statistical Probability, and Modern Science

By

Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif

©Copyright 2010 by Anthony J. Fejfar

In Modern Times, many people seem to be unfamiliar with Logic. In the Ancient

and Medeival World, logic was seen to produce absolute certainty. From a realist point

of view, however, it appears that logic, like everything and everyone else, in existence,

has a probability levels which is 99.99999999999% valid, and, no higher. Now, this

raises the issue as to the validity of logic and its conclusions, from the point of view of

Modern Science. Modern Science teaches us that something is provisionally, or

probably, true, when there is a high statistical correlation between the theory utilized, and

the data which has been studied. For example, if a scientists were to study whether or

not a desk really exists, he or she would find that there is a high statistical correlation of

the existence of a desk, as defined in the material universe. In fact, the statistical

correlation of the existence of a desk, would probably be 99.999999999999% true or

valid. In the case of logic, employing the idea of, real logic, it is clear that any logically

necessary conclusion is itself 99.999999999999%, true, or statistically, valid. In other

words, the conclusions of logic, flowing from a logical proof, have a high statistical

correlation of validity, or, truth, of 99.999999999999%. Now, as has been

demonstrated in an earlier article, it is possible that a logical contradiction could result

from a logic proof, which would negate the validity of that proof. This is why logic

cannot be seen as providing absolute, logical certainty, but instead, only, highly probable,

certainty. In such a case, what is needed is for the logician to develop a new logical rule
to correct the problem. Given the foregoing, if we assume that the premises of a logical

proof are true, in terms of a probable fact, then, the conclusions of that logical proof, are

also true, both as an abstract, conceptual truth, but also as a true fact. Therefore, we can

see that the conclusions of logic are true, and scientifically true, when the logical

premises are true. In other words, logic is scientifically valid.