What is Logical Thinking? Meaning, Skills, and Real World Examples

Do you remember those summer vacations when we played games all day with our friends? All that enjoyment gave us a very valuable skill: logical thinking! ! Now that we’ are getting older and going to workplace or University, we’re using those same skills in a different way.  For instance when it comes to managing our money and paying bills, logical thinking helps us prioritise our own expenses  and make good decisions in saving and investing for ourselves. Know how the logical thinking we learned from games helps us make smart decisions in our daily lives as adults.

Everyone remembers their summer vacations! don’t we? Most of us played games like hide-and-seek and tag, where the goal was to win by acting quickly.  Little did we know that these games were teaching us how to use logical reasoning.  Fast forward to adulthood, and we apply those specific skills in many practical ways. Figuring out how to get to work on time or making sure we have enough money to pay our bills on a monthly basis are skills developed from logical thinking.

Managing our finances requires logical reasoning and spending decisions. When money gets credited, whether as an allowance or from a job, we must know and decide how much to save, how much to spend, and on what. It entails making a plan ahead of time while keeping our needs in mind. We all know paying our bills requires logical thinking. So, whether we’re planning, budgeting or paying bills, logical thinking is always there to help us make wise decisions.

What is Logical Thinking?

Logical thinking may also be defined as the process of looking at a situation and coming up with a reasonable answer. It’s like critical thinking. Logical thinking applies reasoning skills to critically analyse any problem, resulting in a sensible decision about how to proceed. For example, if you are dealing with a problem at work, you will use available data and logical thinking skills to solve it. For example, learning a new instrument demands lots of thinking and concentration. The logical thinking skills that you will develop while learning a new instrument will allow you to approach your work deeper, developing your ability to solve problems with more independence.

Components of Logical Thinking

• Inference

• Inductive Reasoning

• Deductive Reasoning

LOGICAL THINKING SKILLS (WITH EXAMPLES)

Deductive Reasoning

Deduction follows valid premises to reach a logical conclusion.

Example:

• Premise: All mammals have lungs.

• Premise: A whale is a mammal.

• Conclusion: Therefore, a whale has lungs.

Inductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning involves drawing general conclusions based on observations or specific evidence.

Example:

• Observation: Every time I eat peanuts, I get rashes.

• Conclusion: Therefore, I might have an allergy to peanuts.

Abductive Reasoning

Abductive means making a probable conclusion from what you know. The explanation is not necessarily proven to be true.

Example:

• Observation: The ground is wet.

• Explanation: It rained last night.

Fuzzy Logic

Fuzzy logic is based on the idea that individuals make judgements using faulty and non-numerical data.

Example:

• Ashish is 175 cm tall.

• In the context being 175 cm might be considered tall.

• However, Ashish might be considered average height in a group where most people are over 180 cm.

Backward Reasoning

Backward Reasoning starts with a specific goal, desired outcome, or a target condition and works backward to identify the facts or conditions needed to achieve that goal.

Example:

• Goal: I want to attend a prestigious university.

• Backward Reasoning: So, I need to get good grades in high school.

Inference

Inference involves drawing conclusions based on evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statements.

Example:

• Observation: Tourists are taking photos of the Eiffel Tower.

• Inference: The Eiffel Tower is a popular tourist attraction in Paris.

Key Features of Logical Thinking

Some of the key features of logical thinking are:

• Deductive Reasoning

Logical thinking involves drawing specific conclusions from general  rules. It applies a technique, drawing conclusions from logic.

• Analytical Skills

While logical thinking divides complex issues into smaller, simpler ones to handle, it also calls for strong analytical skills. By dissecting the parts and figuring out how they relate to one another, people can make sense of the bigger picture and come to rational conclusions.

• Critical Thinking

Critical thinking plays a major role in logical thinking in order to evaluate claims, theories, and supporting data completely.

• Problem Solving Skills

The goal of logical thinking is to solve problems. Problem-solving has three parts: identifying why the problem is happening, finding out solutions, and deciding which solution to move forward with.

• Decision Making

Making wise decisions is connected with logical thinking. Individuals can make right decisions with all available information. In addition, checking potential outcomes, and taking  other factors also.

Why is Logical Thinking Important?

Logical thinking is important because it allows you to reason through important decisions, problem solving, make creative ideas, and set goals. Whether you are new to working life or you are looking for ways to grow your career, you can also face challenges that require logical reasoning skills. The better your logical thinking skills are, the easier it will be to develop solutions that benefit both you and your workplace.

There are a few reasons why logical thinking skills are important for everyone:

• Enable you to correlate data, events, and information in a successful manner

• Help minimise the chance of making mistakes in terms of solving problems and suggesting solutions

• You can increase your effectiveness in the workplace and boost your success and productivity by ensuring you’re using the right strategies

• Help to reduce wasted time by allowing you to quickly see which information is relevant to an issue and which information is not

• Can increase your ability to effectively communicate.

• Support good decision-making skills.

Logical Thinking Skills

The best way to define logical reasoning skills is the ability to focus on tasks and activities by following a chain of thought processes and relating statements to one another. The process allows you to find a logical solution to your problem.

Logical thinking at workplace

Logical thinking is an important skill that many employers value in their employees. Thinking logically means being able to focus on a task and find correlations between information and use those information for a solution. This skill is necessary for a variety of professions and can ultimately benefit any type of professional.

4 Ways to Improve Logical Thinking

1. Take part in creative activities.

2. Have the habit of asking meaningful questions.

3. You can spend time socialising with people from other backgrounds.

4. Learn a new skill.

Real Life Application of Logical Thinking

• Logical analysis and problem solving.

• Enhanced decision making

• Effective communication

• Conflict Resolution

Takeaway

In conclusion, logical thinking helps us to grow. It is an essential part of our daily lives, giving us the capacity we need to think critically and reasonably. Additionally, we can make informed decisions, and communicate properly. By developing logical thinking skills, we improve our problem-solving abilities, decision-making processes, and foster positive interactions with others. In a world full of information and complexity, logic provides us with the tools we need to navigate uncertainty, make sense of our surroundings, and live more rational and fulfilling lives. Logical thinking allows us to face life’s challenges with clarity, reason, and intellectual ethics.

FAQs

Q1: What is an example of logical and creative thinking?

According to Roger von Oech, logical thinkers mostly focus on the differences among things, while creative thinkers look for similarities and connections between things. For example, a logical thinker might say that a brick and a rubber band are members of two completely different sets.

Q2:  What is a logical person like?

The definition of logical thinking is analysing a situation or problem using reason and coming up with potential solutions. Logical thinkers gather all the information they can, assess the facts, and then methodically decide the best way to move forward.

Q3: Are logical thinkers intelligent?

Yes, mostly people with strong logical intelligence have an aptitude for mathematical calculations, logical thinking, and pattern recognition.They posses reasoning ability, and they can easily think in logical and numerical patterns as well as make connections in between different information.

Q4: How can I improve my IQ and logical thinking?

• Learn to play a musical instrument.

• Practice memory activities.

• Practice your visuospatial skills.

• Learn a new language.

• Read more books.

• Practice executive control activities.

• Improve your relational skills.