Logic as Normative Modeling

Many philosophers understand logic as a theory of truth preservation that is value-neutral and becomes prescriptive only when combined with external, non-logical rules. In this article, we develop an alternative view informed by recent work in the philosophy of scientific modeling. We argue that certain logical systems, in certain scientific and philosophical practices, are used as normative scientific models: they represent their targets by combining descriptive idealizations with assumptions adopted—and defended—on normative grounds. We propose a practice-based account of normative models in science, according to which the normative character of a model depends on its use in the relevant research practice, and apply it to the case of classical first-order logic, in its uses as a model of correct reasoning. Finally, we show how our proposal opens up a new perspective on several contemporary debates in the philosophy of logic.