Correct option is C
Mental Logic Theory posits that human reasoning operates through the application of formal, content-independent inference rules to propositions. The theory comprises three essential components:
(a) Inference Schemas ✓
Inference schemas constitute the foundational knowledge base of the theory. These are abstract, syntactic rules of deduction (e.g., Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens) that operate independently of semantic content. The schemas are assumed to be innate or fundamental cognitive structures that enable individuals to derive valid conclusions based solely on the logical form of premises.
(c) Reasoning Program ✓
The reasoning program represents the procedural mechanism that governs the application of inference schemas. This computational component systematically searches for and applies appropriate schemas to construct mental proofs, managing working memory constraints and determining the sequence of inferential operations necessary to reach a conclusion.
(d) Pragmatic Principles ✓
Pragmatic principles, grounded in Gricean conversational maxims, mediate between formal logical operations and natural language comprehension. These principles enable reasoners to interpret premises within their communicative context, resolving ambiguities and extracting conversational implicatures before inference schemas are applied. This component is essential for modeling ecologically valid reasoning performance.
(b) Accumulation of Concepts ✗
Concept accumulation pertains to semantic memory development and knowledge representation rather than the formal reasoning mechanisms central to Mental Logic Theory. While conceptual knowledge is prerequisite for understanding propositional content, it does not constitute a structural component of the mental logic framework, which focuses on syntactic operations rather than semantic acquisition.
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