Logic; the Theory of Inquiry - Classic Text | Alexandria
Logic: The Theory of Inquiry - John Dewey (1938)
Logic: The Theory of Inquiry stands as John Dewey's culminating work on logical theory, representing the mature crystallization of his instrumentalist philosophy and pragmatic approach to knowledge acquisition. This seminal text, published in 1938 when Dewey was 79, revolutionized traditional understanding of logic by recasting it not as a formal system of absolute truths, but as a naturalistic theory of inquiry deeply embedded in human experience and problem-solving.
The work emerged during a pivotal period in philosophical thought, as logical positivism gained prominence in Europe and pragmatism flourished in America. Dewey's text challenged the dominant Aristotelian and Kantian logical traditions by arguing that logical forms emerge from successful methods of inquiry rather than existing as eternal, a priori structures. Drawing from Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory and the scientific method, Dewey proposed that inquiry itself is a natural process of organisms interacting with their environment to resolve problematic situations.
Central to Dewey's theory is the radical reconceptualization of logic as instrumental rather than purely formal. He meticulously demonstrated how logical principles and forms evolve as tools for inquiry, much like how scientific instruments develop to serve specific investigative needs. This revolutionary perspective influenced fields far beyond philosophy, reshaping educational theory, scientific methodology, and social theory. The text's detailed analysis of pattern formation in inquiry, warranted assertibility, and the role of social context in knowledge creation opened new avenues for understanding human cognition and problem-solving.
The enduring significance of Logic: The Theory of Inquiry lies in its prescient anticipation of contemporary developments in cognitive science, educational psychology, and social epistemology. Modern researchers continue to discover relevant insights in Dewey's naturalistic approach to logic, particularly in studies of artificial intelligence, educational technology, and social learning theory. The work's fundamental question - how human beings successfully navigate problematic situations through intelligent inquiry - remains as pertinent today as when first posed, challenging us to reconsider the relationship between thought, action, and knowledge in an increasingly complex world.