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Philo 09-20-15

A syllogism is a logical argument with three terms and three categorical propositions: two premises and a conclusion. The major term appears in the major premise and conclusion, the minor term appears in the minor premise and conclusion, and the middle term appears in both premises but not the conclusion. There are four valid forms of syllogism depending on whether the middle term is the subject or predicate in each premise. For a syllogism to be valid, it must follow the rules of having only three terms, taking one of the four forms, not having two particular premises, and not having two negative premises. The conclusion is always weaker than the weaker premise.

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37 views

Philo 09-20-15

A syllogism is a logical argument with three terms and three categorical propositions: two premises and a conclusion. The major term appears in the major premise and conclusion, the minor term appears in the minor premise and conclusion, and the middle term appears in both premises but not the conclusion. There are four valid forms of syllogism depending on whether the middle term is the subject or predicate in each premise. For a syllogism to be valid, it must follow the rules of having only three terms, taking one of the four forms, not having two particular premises, and not having two negative premises. The conclusion is always weaker than the weaker premise.

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SYLLOGISM (CATEGORICAL)

A mediate inference with three terms and three categorical preposition. Two
antecedents and a consequent

BASIC TERMS
a.) MAJOR TERM the predicate of two conclusion.
It occurs in the first antecedent called the MAJOR PREMISE and in the
conclusion. it is designate by a capital letter I or S
b.) MINOR TERM the subject of the conclusion. it occurs in the second
antecedent called the MINOR PREMISE and in the conclusion It is designated
by a small letter t a capital letter F
c.) MIDDLE TERM the term that should not exist in the conclusion. It occurs in
the MAJOR and MINOR premise side by side with the MAJOR and MINOR
terms. It is designated by a capital letter M

PATTERNS/FORMS/FIGURES
1. MT SU
2.TM PR
3.MT SU
4. TM PR
Mt
tM B
tM E
B
Mt E
tT SU
tT PR
tT SU
tT SU
E
B
B
B
Figure #1 Middle tem is SUBJECT above/PREDICATE below

MAJOR
PREMISE
MINOR
PREMISE

Figure #2 Middle term is PREDICATE above/PREDICATE bellow


Figure #3 Middle tem is SUBJECT ABOVE/SUBJECT bellow
Figure #4 Middle terms is PREDICATE above/SUBJECT Below

GENERAL LAWS
Rule #1 there must be three (3) and only three (3) Terms, NOT MORE NOT LESS
Rule #2 - Syllogism must follow one of four valid forms namely : SUB-PRE, PRE-SUB,
SUB-SUB, and PRE-SUB.
Rule #3 there is no conclusion to infer if both premises are particular.
Rule #4 - From two (2) negative premise no conclusion can proceed.
Rule# 5- Conclusion always follow the weaker side namely:
a.) Is is particular if one premise is particular
b.) It is negative if one premise is negative.

EXAMPLE:
God is Love - (major premise)
t
M
Love is blind - (minor premise)
M
T
Therefore God is Blind - (conclusion)
T
t
(Formally Invalid)

Dogs are animals


M
T
Some animals are bulldogs
M
t
Therefore some bulldogs are dogs
t
T
(Formally valid/Materially invalid)

All bulldogs are dogs


SU are P M
T
A
Some animals are dogs
SP are P t
M
I
Therefore some animals are bulldogs
t
SP are P T
(Formally valid/Materially valid)
I

A
I
A
O
A
X

A E A E
O
E E I I
O
E X I O
X

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