Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ecsvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!unc!mcnc!ecsvax!dgary From: dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady) Newsgroups: net.singles,net.math Subject: Re: Logic (for logicians) Message-ID: <1598@ecsvax.UUCP> Date: Tue, 9-Jul-85 12:59:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ecsvax.1598 Posted: Tue Jul 9 12:59:00 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 11-Jul-85 07:40:02 EDT References: <456@ttidcc.UUCP> <457@ttidcc.UUCP> <1586@hao.UUCP> <238@rti-sel.UUCP> <2545@randvax.UUCP> <485@ttidRe: Logic (for logicians) Organization: Duke U Comp Ctr Lines: 30 Xref: watmath net.singles:7727 net.math:2130 > Yeah, this probably doesn't belong on net.singles; at least, I've never had > any success starting a romantic conversation with "Whose your favorite logi- > cian?" Still, maybe some of you out there.... |-). > > Regards, > Rance Cleaveland An introductory logic book I've seen quotes a hilarious episode from the book "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (I think that's right) by Max Shulman. In it, Dobie resolves to secure the ideal wife by finding an attractive woman and teaching her to be logical (believing this to be an easier course than the reverse). The woman he pursues is his roommate's girlfriend. He persuades the roommate to give her up by offering him a raccoon coat (a recent fad at their college) as a bribe. Then Dobie proceeds to indoctrinate the young lady in logic both formal and material. All goes well until the day she announces she's returning to her old flame, the roommate. Dobie is crushed and tries to talk her out of it, but for each plea he makes, the woman spouts a rejoinder identifying the logical fallacy in his argument. "Argumentum ad misericordiam," she scolds. "Argumentum ad hominem. Argumentum ad vericumdiam." Finally, defeated, he asks her what reason she would have to go back to his roommate. "It's simple," she tells him. "He owns a raccoon coat." -- D Gary Grady Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC 27706 (919) 684-3695 USENET: {seismo,decvax,ihnp4,akgua,etc.}!mcnc!ecsvax!dgary