Explicating the Logic of Biology to Support Critical Thinking

Abstract

Mathematical logic and philosophical ontology can play an important role in improving biology education by teaching critical thinking. We propose to explicitly identify universally true statements in biology textbooks so that there is clear understanding of the applicability conditions for each piece of knowledge. We further propose that each biology concept should be defined using an Aristotelian definition. We show how these enhancements enable critical thinking and could be made part of pedagogical practice using an intelligent textbook.