What are the ten ways in which something can be said to exist? What are the five ways in which something can be said of something else? What are the four questions you must answer in order to really know something? In ancient and medieval times, the answers to these questions were common currency among thinking people.

When most people think of logic, they think of formal logic—the study of the structure or form of reasoning. But what most educators don’t realize is that formal logic is only one part of a complete logic program. The other branch of logic study was called “material logic,” and focused not on the form of reasoning, but on its content. In short, while formal logic studied the "how" of reasoning, material logic studied the "what."

The principles of material logic, an important part of trivium language study, are now almost forgotten—a casualty of the almost exclusive modern secular emphasis on math and sciences. Formal logic was once termed minor (or lesser) logic, while material logic usually went by the name of major (or greater) logic—a measure of how important classical thinkers considered them.

There is a huge gap between formal logic courses and so-called "thinking skills" courses. Formal logic focuses exclusively on the systematic study of the structure of reasoning. That is important, but it hardly covers all you need to know to reason effectively. “Thinking skills” courses, on the other hand, tend to suffer from a highly nonsystematic topic-hopping approach, where the student is unable to see how one principle connects with another.

With the publication of Material Logic: A Traditional Approach to Thinking Skills, these ancient techniques are a lost art no more. Whether you want a follow-on course to Memoria Press’ popular Traditional Logic program, or simply an introductory thinking skills course for high school grades, this new addition to Memoria Press’ widely acclaimed Classical Trivium Core Series is a valuable tool in teaching your student to think.

Our monks wanted to call the program “Concerning the 10 Categories, the Five Predicables, the Four Causes, and the Five Elements of Classification and Their Use in the Art of Thinking”—in Latin! But we convinced them that a simpler title would get the message across just fine. And by the way, their words for it were: “Logica summa est”—which roughly translates: “It’s just tops!”

Material Logic, like all of Memoria Press’ programs, is designed to ease the job of the teacher or parent—with straightforward explanations, an easy to read text layout, and digestible daily exercise sets.

Material Logic, the newest contribution to trivium language study, can be used
as either a one-semester or one-year course. Consumable.

• The TEN ways in which something can exist
• The FIVE ways you can say something about something else
• The FOUR Questions you must answer in order to know what something is
• Analyses of famous essays by St. Thomas Aquinas, Hillaire Belloc, and Sir Francis Bacon

other popular picks:

Traditional Logic Videos	Handbook of Christian Apologetics	Traditional Logic II	Classical Rhetoric with Arist.

• Should I start with Material Logic (ML) or Traditional Logic?
  • You can start with either, although Traditional Logic is often the first logic course and can be used at a younger age.
  • Neither is a prerequisite for the other.
• Is Material Logic I a one-semester or one-year course?
  • ML I is used as a one-year course by many homeschoolers and schools. However, if you are using it in a classroom 5 days per week with 9th Grade or higher students, you may complete the book in only one semester.
• ML is designed for what ages?
  • ML is designed for 9th Grade & up.
• Is ML a prerequisite for Classical Rhetoric? Is Latin a prerequisite for ML?
  • ML is not required for Classical Rhetoric, but it is the normal course of study to take logic before Rhetoric.
  • Latin is not required for ML.

• See the Logic Sequence (requires Adobe acrobat reader)
• Thinking Logically About Logic
  by Martin Cothran
  Forget Mr. Spock; he isn't half as logical as you will be after reading this article.  What is the definition of logic?  What are the main branches of the subject? How is it best studied?  Discover the basics of the second leg of the classical trivium. 
• Latin, Logic, and Christian Theology
  by Martin Cothran
  What if there was a way to teach all three of these at one time to young high school students?  There is.
• Logic is Not Math
  by Martin Cothran
  Classical educators have always known that the trivium is about language. Grammar teaches the structure of language; logic teaches right reasoning with language; and rhetoric teaches the adornment of language with power and beauty for persuasion.

• Some Material Logic texts printed in early 2004 were missing p.93, 95, & 97. You may download these pages here in pdf format.  If you would like a replacement book, please contact us at 877-862-1097.