CHAPTER FOUR CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS

Categorical syllogism is a deductive argument consisting of 3 categorical propositions which contain exactly 3 terms. Example: All Filipinos are hospitable persons All Ilocanos are Filipinos Therefore All Ilocanos are hospitable persons HOW TO IDENTIFY THE TERMS IN THE SYLLOGISM? 1.) Major Term (P) found in the major premise as either the subject or the predicate the predicate of the conclusion. *In the example above, the major term is hospitable persons because it is the predicate of the conclusion. 2.) Minor Term (S) found in the minor premise as either the subject or predicate the subject of the conclusion. In the example above, the minor term is Ilocanos because it is the subject of the conclusion 3.) Middle Term (M) the only term which is not found in the conclusion and the only term which appears twice in the premises. In the example above, the middle term is Filipinos because it is found in the two premises. Example All lawyers are politicians. Some lawyers are liars Therefore some liars are not politicians Major term: politicians Minor term: liars Middle term: lawyers A. FORM OF CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM Figure of the categorical syllogism Mood of Categorical Syllogism I. FIGURE OF CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM it refers to the way the middle term is arranged in the syllogism. Fig. 1 ( sub-pre) M P SM -------SP Fig. 3 (sub-sub) M P MS --------SP Fig. 2 (pre-pre) PM S M -------SP PM MS --------S-P

Fig. 4(pre-sub)

II. MOOD OF CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM refers to the type of propositions (A, E, I, O) in which the major premise, the minor premise and the conclusion respectively appear in the syllogism.

EXAMPLES:
Some students are academic scholars All students are hardworking persons. Therefore some hardworking persons are academic scholars. IAI Only men are priests Mark is a man. Therefore Mark is a priest AAA DISTRIBUTION OF TERMS Subject Term Predicate Term Distributed Undistributed Distributed Distributed Undistributed Undistributed Undistributed Distributed GENERAL RULES FOR A VALID SYLLOGISM 1. There should be exactly 3 terms to be used throughout the whole argument. Violation: fallacy of 4 terms (equivocation) Examples: A ruler measures 12 inches. But GMA is a ruler. Therefore, GMA measures 12 inches. * This syllogism is invalid because a word is used in two different propositions with different meaning. * This syllogism committed the fallacy of equivocation or fallacy of 4 terms. 2. The middle term must be distributed at least once in the premises. Violation: Fallacy of the undistributed middle term. Examples: All men are unique beings. Some unique beings are red. Therefore, some red beings are men. All dogs are animals. All cats are animals. Therefore, all cats are dogs. * These syllogisms are invalid syllogisms because the middle terms unique beings and animals are undistributed in the two premises. * These syllogisms committed the fallacy of Undistributed Middle Term. 3. If the term is distributed in the conclusion then the same term must also be distributed in the premises. Violation: Fallacy of the illicit major term or fallacy of illicit minor term. Examples: All cats are animals. No bats are cats.

A E I O

Therefore, No bats are animals. All CICians are students. No Ateneans are students. Therefore, no Ateneans are students. All criminals are law-violators. All criminals are evil persons. Therefore, all evil persons are law-violators. *These syllogisms are invalid syllogisms. The first and second example committed the fallacy of illicit major term and the third example committed the fallacy of illicit minor term. 4. Two negative premises are not allowed. Violation: Fallacy of exclusive terms Examples: Rizza is not a joyful person Mae is not Michelle. Therefore, Mae is not a joyful person. *This syllogism is invalid syllogism and had committed the fallacy of exclusive terms. 5. One of the negative premises is allowed if and only if the conclusion is negative. Violation: Fallacy of drawing an affirmative conclusion based from a negative premise. Example: All teachers are models. Some teachers are not wise persons. Therefore, some wise persons are models. * This syllogism is invalid and committed the fallacy of drawing out an affirmative conclusion based from a negative premise. 6. Two affirmative premises cannot give a negative conclusion. 7. When one premise is particular, the conclusion must be particular. 8. When both premises are particular, there is no conclusion. THE VALID MOODS x x AAAA EEEE AE IO AEI O

xx xxx I I I I OOOO Major Premise A E I O AE I O Minor Premise

These are the possible valid moods in every figure. But applying the general rules to these moods, those with mark x are terminated because they violate one of the general rules. So the remaining possible valid moods are as follows: A A A A E E I I O O Major Premise A E I O A I A E A E Minor Premise *With these possible valid moods, let us apply the specific rules for each figure. VALID MOODS FOR THE FIRST FIGURE Rules: 1. The major premise must be universal. 2. The minor premise must be affirmative.

AAA, EAE, AII, EIO (BARBARA, CELARE, DARII, FERIO) VALID MOODS FOR THE SECOND FIGURE Rules: 1. One premise must be negative. 2. The major premise must be universal. EAE, AEE, EIO, AOO (CESARE, CAMESTRE, FESTINO, BAROCO) VALID MOODS FOR THE THIRD FIGURE Rules: 1. The minor premise must be affirmative. 2. The conclusion must be particular. AAI, IAI, AII, EAO, OAO, EIO (DARAPTI, DISAMIS, DATISI, FELAPTON, BOCARDO, FERISON)

VALID MOODS FOR THE FOURTH FIGURE Rules: 1. If the major premise is affirmative, the minor premise must be universal. 2. If the minor premise is an affirmative, the conclusion must be particular. 3. If either premise is negative, the major term must be universal. AAI, AEE, IAI, EAO, EIO (BRAMANTIP, CAMENES, DIMARIS, FESAPO, FRESISON) EXAMPLES: FIRST FIGURE AAA (BARBARA) All beings that have mastery over their voluntary acts are responsible for their voluntary acts. But, all normal human adults have mastery over their voluntary acts. Therefore, all normal human adults are responsible for their voluntary acts. EAE (CELARE) No selfish persons are truly considerate. But, all ambitious individuals are selfish. Therefore, no ambitious individuals are truly considerate. SECOND FIGURE EAE (CESARE) No praiseworthy acts are mean. But, all selfish acts are mean. Therefore, all selfish acts are not praiseworthy. AEE (CAMESTRE) All men are rational beings. But, no brutes are rational beings. Therefore, no brutes are men. THIRD FIGURE AAI (DARAPTI) All gifted musicians are emotional But, all gifted musicians are artists. Therefore, some artists are emotional. IAI (DISAMIS) Some inconsiderate men are strict But, all inconsiderate men are hard-hearted.

Therefore, some hard-hearted men are strict. FOURTH FIGURE AAI (BRAMANTIP) All whales are mammals. But, all mammals are warm-blooded animals. Therefore, some warm-blooded animals are whales. AEE (CAMENES) All mammals are warm blooded animals. But, all warm-blooded animals are not reptiles. Therefore, all reptiles are not mammals.