The Differences Between Logical, Ethical, and Dialectical Reasoning The way humans think is one of the most distinct differences among us all. No single person's entire thought process is the same as anyone else's because everyone understands differently. The way we think makes us who we are, and the decisions we make are based on our thought process. We reason logically, ethically or dialectically to arrive at a final decision. Logical, ethical, and dialectical reasoning all serve a different purpose to help us reason about the world around us. Logical is a Greek word "logos" meaning reason. Logical reasoning is defined as logic “relating to the formal processes used in thinking and reasoning.” It is the ability to think rationally with supporting evidence. When we think logically we must have a clear reason for our actions. For example, if there was a fire, it would be ideal for someone to run, get a fire extinguisher, or throw water to put out the fire. Such decisions would be logical. We don't contemplate as much when we think logically because it is based on existing knowledge we have about the situation or possibilities we can see clearly. We've all heard "think logically" before, which means you don't need to think about any other possible outcome than the one presented before. Inductive, deductive and abductive reasoning is used to arrive at the best decision. Inductive reasoning presents a conclusion based on the information presented. Inductive reasoning can be risky when the information provided is based only on the group being tested. For example, someone might say that all zebras have stripes without seeing all zebras. While this would seem logical, it would be impossible...... middle of paper......Fibonicci. (2011, January 1). Logical Reasoning - Fibonicci. Fibonicci RSS. Retrieved January 1, 2011, from http://www.fibonicci.com/logical-reasoning/Gadamer, H. (1991). Plato's dialectical ethics: phenomenological interpretations relating to Philebus. New Haven: Yale University Press.Harvey, C. P., & Allard, M. J. (2008). Understanding and managing diversity (4th ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education.Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006). The thinker's guide to understanding the foundations of ethical reasoning (2nd ed.). Dillon Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Zalta, E. N. (2002). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford, California: Metaphysical Research Laboratory, Center for the Study of Language and Information, Stanford University..