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The Trivium & Logical Fallacies

You will recall from our monitorial instruction the Logic (also dialectic) is the “mechanics” of thought and
lesson about the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences, and analysis, the process of composing sound arguments and
the third ight in the ascent up the winding stairs, the identifying fallacious arguments and statements and so
seven steps, which are said to be: grammar, rhetoric, logic, systematically removing contradictions, thereby producing
arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. e seven factual knowledge that can be trusted.
liberal arts and sciences were considered of signi cance. -Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trivium
In earlier times the instruction was limited to what was
then called the Liberal Arts and Sciences and consisted of One of the most important components of learning
two branches, known as the Trivium and the Quadrivium. …is academic discourse, which requires argumentation
e Trivium included grammar, rhetoric, and logic, and and debate. Argumentation and debate inevitably lend
the Quadrivium comprehended arithmetic, geometry, themselves to awed reasoning and rhetorical errors. Many
music and astronomy. ese seven heads were supposed of these errors are considered logical fallacies.
to include universal knowledge-the knowledge of the -Source: 15 Logical Fallacies You Should Know Before
Trivium having furnished the scholar with the key to all Getting into a Debate, e Best Schools.
language, and that of the Quadrivium having opened to
him the secret laws of nature. A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning common
enough to warrant a fancy name. Knowing how to spot
At a period when few were instructed in the Trivium, and and identify fallacies is a priceless skill. It can save you
very few studied the Quadrivium, to be master of both was time, money, and personal dignity. ere are two major
su cient to complete the character of the philosopher. e categories of logical fallacies, which in turn break down
propriety, thereof, of adopting the seven liberal arts and into a wide range of types of fallacies, each with their own
sciences as a symbol of the completion of human learning unique ways of trying to trick you into agreement.
is apparent. e candidate, having reached this point, has
accomplished the task upon which he had entered-he has ere are two types of fallacies:
reached the last step, and is now ready to receive the full
fruition of human learning.” …is he, is he really…some Formal Fallacy – has true premises but may still have a
have suggested that the fraternity today would do well to false conclusion. Put another way – it is a breakdown in
spend much more time studying and learning the Trivium how you say something. e ideas are somehow sequenced
and Quadrivium. incorrectly. eir form is wrong, rendering the argument
as noise and nonsense.
So, let us progress along this thought of discourse and what
it means to the fraternity. Discourse or communication, Informal Fallacy – has a valid logical form and yet is
or rather as Masons we should apply civil discourse. To unsound because one or more premises are false. Put
better understand the written and spoken word we need another way – it denotes an error in what you are saying,
to have a better understanding of how a topic is presented that is, the content of your argument. e ideas might
through debate and argumentation and the fallacies be arranged correctly, but something you said isn’t quite
that most o en accompany them. is can be applied to right. e content is wrong or o -kilter.
many situations in Masonry, the family and or of course
society. You may recognize the following fallacies from It is important to understand what a logical fallacy is, not
discussions with your spouse, children, Lodge Brothers, only so you avoid making one yourself but also being able
maybe during an Annual Communication the discourse to spot them when others fall into the tramp of employing
on proposed legislation as presented by the speakers both one. ey are o en used to de ect discussions away from
for and against. establishment of the truth. Logical fallacies are o en
deployed consciously within the mainstream and social
Logic is one of the seven liberal arts and sciences – which media as a way of perpetuating an ideology or mistruth.
as Masons we are reminded to study. Logic is part of the People use logical fallacies every day, whether they
Trivium of seven liberal arts and sciences – partnered understand they are doing it or not. (Learn to spot them).
with Grammar and Rhetoric – we cannot have a reasoned
debate without employing the Trivium: e following are some of the most used logical fallacies,
many of which can be further explored.
Grammar teaches the mechanics of language to the
student. is is the step where the student “comes to Circular Argument (petitio principii, meaning ‘Assuming
terms”, de ning the objects and information perceived by the initial’; aka ‘begging the question’. e reasoner begins
the ve senses. Hence, the Law of Identity: a tree is a tree, with what they are trying to end with – a claim using the
and not a cat. conclusion as the premise.

Montana Freemason Page 7 Sept/Oct 2020 Volume 96 No. 5