The Logic of Alice
The Logic of Alice: Clear Thinking in Wonderland, by Bernard M. Patten (Prometheus 2009)
A man who doesn’t believe in Robinson Crusoe . . . is a man with a loose screw in his understanding. or a man lost in the mist of his own self-conceit! Argument is thrown away upon him; and pity is better reserved for some person with a livelier faith.
The Moonstone
Besides being near contemporaries, what does Betteredge in the Moonstone have in common with Alice and her adventures in Wonderland (Why is raven like a writing desk?)? All in good time.
I grew up not with the book by Lewis Carroll, but the Disney cartoon. I suppose my youngest child will grow up on the live action version. Still even then, I knew many episodes quite well and was easily convinced as an undergraduate that Alice’s adventures, far from being examples of nonsense were indeed filled with logical arguments and fallacies. (at this point I should hasten to add that I did eventually read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for myself, and yes it is a logician’s paradise). So then, imagine my delight at coming across a book that was reputed to outline all subtlety of reasoned argument in the mist of utter confusion.
Now imagine my utter disappointment. The Logic of Alice is a sprawling work that says more about its author than about clear thinking itself. We get his opinions of religion, politics, science, sex, child-rearing, ethics and a host of other topics. Yes logic and sound reasoning pervade, but often Alice’s encounters seem to be more of a launch-pad for what Patten deems to be clear thinking than the problems that actually confront Alice. Read the rest of this entry »
Recent Acquisitions: Juvenile and Young Adult Collection
Juvenile and Young Adult materials now available on the New Books shelf!
Junie B. Jones and a little monkey business / by Barbara Park ; illustrated by Denise Brunkus.
New York : Random House, c1993.
Temporarily at New Books
PZ7.P2197 Jt 1993
Junie B. Jones and her big fat mouth / by Barbara Park ; illustrated by Denise Brunkus.
New York : Random House, c1993.
Temporarily at New Books
PZ7.P2197 Jtr 1993
Junie B. Jones and some sneaky peeky spying / by Barbara Park ; illustrated by Denise Brunkus.
New York : Random House, c1994.
Temporarily at New Books
PZ7.P2197 Jts 1994
Junie B. Jones and the stupid smelly bus / by Barbara Park ; illustrated by Denise Brunkus.
New York : Random House, c1992.
Temporarily at New Books
PZ7.P2197 Ju 1992
Boxcar children / by Gertrude Chandler Warner ; illustrated by L. Kate Deal.
Niles, Ill. : Albert Whitman & Co., c1977.
Temporarily at New Books
PZ7.W244 Bo 1977
Mystery ranch / by Gertrude Chandler Warner ; illustrated by Dirk Gringhuis.
Niles, Ill. : Albert Whitman & Co., c1986.
Temporarily at New Books
PZ7.W244 My 1986
Surprise Island / by Gertrude Chandler Warner ; illustrated by Mary Gehr.
Niles, Ill. : Albert Whitman & Co., c1977.
Temporarily at New Books
PZ7.W244 Su 1977
Yellow house mystery / by Gertrude Chandler Warner ; illustrated by Mary Gehr.
Chicago : Albert Whitman & Co., c1981.
Temporarily at New Books
PZ7.W244 Ye 1981
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