Material Logic From Memoria Press

Description

According to author Martin Cothran, the study of material logic is largely ignored in this day and age, sometimes even by classical educators. Formal logic, or logic which is largely concerned with the structure of an argument, is the primary form of logic students are now exposed to. This trend, however, has not always been the case. Material logic, or the study of the content of an argument, was for many years a natural part of the language-centered Trivium. The author is attempting to re-establish the importance of material logic with this series (although only one book is available at this time, another is planned for the future). It is designed to follow up Memoria's Traditional Logic books or as an introductory logic course for high school students. Material Logic takes a systematic approach to the subject, studying the three basic divisions of material logic: the ten modes of being, the five predicables, and the three modes of knowledge. The modes of being, or the ten categories of being, are the ten ways in which something can be described to "be." The five predicables are the five ways you can say something about a thing. The modes of knowledge include definition, division, and argumentation. Material Logic contains 15 chapters/lessons, each with several pages of text and a handful of exercises to help the student thoroughly understand what was covered.

Lesson 1 gives an outline of traditional logic, Lesson 2 teaches simple apprehension, and Lesson 3 covers comprehension and extension, before the three divisions are covered in more depth. Lessons 4-6 cover the ten categories, Lessons 7 and 8 cover the five predicables, and Lessons 9-13 cover "the expression of comprehension". Lessons 14 and 15 cover division and an analysis of "Idols of the Mind" by Sir Francis Bacon. Several appendices are included for extra teaching help. The textual portions of the lessons have wide margins to mark in, and the exercises are divided by day, with about 4-5 days-worth of exercises for each chapter. A corresponding answer key contains answers to each of the daily exercises. The Student Text and Answer Key are available separately or as a set. Instructional Videos are now available through online streaming, or on DVDs. ~ Jess

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Religious Content
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.