The Metaphysics Of Logic

In recent discussions with a friend, the issue of logic's necessary, beginningless existence has surfaced multiple times.  To illuminate the exact truths of this matter, I will explain every crucial point relevant to this subject.  Since John 1 has been quoted by some when I explain to them that logic cannot be a created thing because logic cannot not exist, I will first dissect what the passage actually says about creation.

John 1 plainly does not say that God created all things.  John 1:3 credits God with creating all created things, as it says that apart from the Word (later equated with the figure of Jesus in John 1:14) "nothing was made that has been made."  First of all, if it did describe such a thing as occurring, then it would be the Bible, and not logic, which is false.  Second, even theists who pretend like the nonexistence of logic is even possible and who think that God somehow created logic do not actually think that God created everything, for they still posit that God has always existed without a beginning.  Third, this verse does not even mean that Yahweh or Christ (the "Word") created every thing that has come into existence, only every category of created thing--matter itself, human consciousness, animal consciousness, angelic consciousness, and so on.  If I create a sculpture, I made it, not God.  However, God created the initial matter itself.

For God to even be what he is prior to creating the universe, the law of identity must exist.  Of course, even if no uncaused cause existed, and thus no creation as well, logic would still exist: there would still be a way reality is (reality would simply not feature matter or consciousness of any kind), reality would still be what it is, and sound conclusions still follow from their premises.  Even if no matter exists, it is still true that if a tree exists then matter exists, for example.  Even if no consciousnesses exist, then it is still true that if a thing perceives then it exists as a conscious mind.  Even if no matter and consciousness exist, seven plus two always equals nine.  Logic cannot not exist.  To show the importance of this, however, I will describe what would follow if logic was a created thing.

If logic was created, it would not exist by pure necessity.  If it does not exist by pure necessity, then it is not and cannot be necessary, and as a result there are no necessary truths.  If logic is not necessary, then it cannot be known to be true, since logic itself would be contingent on something else and not self-sufficient.  Consequently, nothing can be known, since nothing about either self-evident logical axioms or the laws of deductive reasoning have to be true.  To deny knowledge is to affirm it, a self-refuting endeavor.

Logic is true.  It is self-verifying, self-evident, and necessary.  To argue against it one must wield it, meaning that logic can only be false if it is true.  Thus, logical truths are necessary truths, irrespective of other truths, which are contingent.  Contingent truths include variables like scientific laws and the existence of matter.  The very nature of logic makes it impossible for even a single logical truth to be any different than it is.

Logic must be universal to be true.  To be universal, it must have no beginning; it must transcend space, matter, and time.  To have no beginning, it must be an uncreated thing.  All of this follows from the fact that logic exists and is inherently true, its intrinsic veracity and necessary existence having nothing to do with any mind, including the mind of God.

Logic, people.  It is very damn helpful, and it cannot be false, regardless of what you prefer or believe.