Logic as an Epistemic Tool

What might it mean to say that logic is an epistemic tool? A straightforward response is that it helps in the production of knowledge. However, this doesn't imply that logic determines what is true or false. In Logic in the Wild, I address the “Why not truth?” question, which challenges the relevance of logic if it cannot definitively adjudicate truth. If something is known to be false, why entertain logical arguments supporting it? And if the truth of the reasons supporting a belief is uncertain, why invest time in logical analysis?

These are pertinent questions, yet posing them does not render them unanswerable. Realizing the true function of adopting a logical mindset reveals why such questions themselves can obstruct informed reasoning, particularly within a community. Returning to our initial inquiry: how does logic function as a tool in knowledge production if it does not generate knowledge itself? One part of the answer is that while logic alone does not suffice to produce knowledge, it is sometimes necessary for it. You can have arguments that contain only true content but lack logical coherence, thereby failing to secure genuine knowledge. Thus, logic's contribution is that it is necessary to facilitate knowledge production.

This topic became particularly salient to me while extensively reading the literature on "epistemic injustice," which describes how such injustice wrongs individuals in their capacity as knowers. One form of epistemic injustice, as frequently discussed, involves denying access to shared epistemic tools. Although these discussions are prevalent, the precise definition of what constitutes an epistemic tool still invites further exploration. It's obvious to me that logic is one such tool that has historically been withheld, a practice with profound historical and cultural implications. Aristotle, for example, perpetuated the notion that women are not logical but emotional, reinforcing a patriarchal dichotomy between emotion and logic, male and female. Recognizing logic as an epistemic tool sheds light on how its denial has contributed to systemic epistemic injustice, particularly against women. This perspective invites a deeper understanding of logic not just as a theoretical framework but as a practical necessity in challenging and overcoming these ingrained injustices.