Logic and Reasoning (Final)
Logic and Reasoning (Final)
1) Proposition
The various units of thought are called 'prepositions'. Or 'when any two concepts are
compared or contrasted in the mind and a relationship of agreement or disagreement is
formed, the result is a judgment. When a judgment is expressed in language, it is called
proposition'. According to Aristotelian logic, Term is the basic unit of thought, while
according to the modern logic, proposition is the basic unit of thought.
A proposition asserts that something is the case or it asserts that something is not.
Which is asserting or denying something. Therefore, every proposition is either true or
false.
Propositions are the building blocks of our reasoning.
The term statement is not an exact synonym of proposition, but it is often used in logic in
much the same sense.
Subject Copula
Quantifier:
It shows the measurement or quantity of the members of a group, proposition/something.
For Example:
All, few, some etc.
Quantifiers are of two types but normally three types:
i. Singular
Universal
ii. Universal
iii. Particular
1. Universal Quantifier:
A universal quantifier is a word which is extended to the whole members of the group.
For Example:
All, total, whole, non, etc.
2. Particular Quantifier:
A particular quantifier is a word which is extended to the certain members of the group.
For Example:
Some, Few, Most, Majority, Usually, Maximum, Minimum, etc.
Elements of Argument:
An argument is consisted of some Premises and a conclusion.
Premises and Conclusion are all statements.
Factual Claim + Premise = Conclusion or Inferential Claim
For Example
All men are mortal. Factual Claims or Premises
Some Americans are men.
Therefore, Some Americans are mortal. (Conclusion)
Premise:
The statements giving reasons for accepting the conclusion.
Conclusion:
The statement argued for or the statement for the acceptance of which the
reasons are being presented.
Statement:
A statement is a sentence. However, a sentence may of any four types namely:
i. Imperative Sentence (Commands, Giving orders)
ii. Interrogative Sentence (Questions, asking something)
iii. Exclamatory Sentence (Feelings, vent of emotions)
iv. Declarative Sentence (Sentence which may be true or false or the truth
of which may be asserted or denied)
This is related to propositions. Other 3 sentences are not
propositions.
“ss” Formula
To Check:
The “s” stands for “Structure of the Argument".
The “s” stands for “Strength of the Conclusion”.
For Example:
All men are mortal.
Akram is a man.
Therefore, Akram is a student. (Conclusion)
o There is no strength in the conclusion. This statement is true in itself but
it does not follow the conclusion.
i. Major Term
Predicate of the conclusion is called the Major Term.
For Example:
No human beings are angels.
1. Deductive Argument
It is that argument which consists of using general principles to infer specific
propositions.
Universal Universal
Universal Particular
For Example:
Aisha always wears glasses to go to school.
Aisha will be come to school tomorrow.
Therefore, Aisha will be wear glasses to go to school tomorrow.
2. Inductive Argument
It is that argument which consists of using specific principles to infer general
proposition.
Particular Universal
For Example:
Fareed wore Shalwar Qameez to work on Friday.
Fareed wore Shalwar Qameez to work on Saturday.
Fareed wore Shalwar Qameez to work on Monday.
Therefore, Fareed always wears Shalwar Qameez to work.
Remember:
Kinds of Inference
There are two (2) kinds of Inference:
i. Deductive Inference
In deductive inference a less general or partial conclusion is drawn from
General propositions.
For Example
All men are mortal.
Aslam is a man.
Therefore, Aslam is mortal.
ii. Inductive Inference
In inductive inference, on the other hand, a general conclusion is arrived at with
the help of particular propositions.
For Example
A is a man and he has died.
B is a man and he has died.
C is a man and he has died.
Therefore, all men are mortal.
Let us apply the process of Conversion to the four standard forms of Propositions
A,E,I,O and see the results.
Prepared by: Fareed Khan Taryyn Page 9
Propositions A = 'All S is P' is a Universal Affirmative Proposition. By applying the
three Rules we will have:
1. Applying the 1st rule, we will change 'S is P' to 'P is S'.
2. According to rule 2, since both the subject and predicate of the convertend are
distributed, they will remain distributed in the converse.
2) Obversion
Let us apply these four rules of Obversion to the four standard propositions A,E,I,O to find
out their obverse.
According to rule 1, the predicate of the obverse will be "non-p instead of p".
According to rule 4, the quantity of the obvertend will remain the same, i.e., it will remain
universal.
According to rule 4, as the quality will remain the same, E proposition will change to an A
proposition.
Thus, the obverse of E proposition 'NO S is P' will be an A proposition 'All S is non-P'. Taking
a concrete example, the obverse of 'No chairs are tables' will be 'All chairs are non-tables'.
According to rule 4, the obverse of a particular proposition will remain a particular proposition.
Thus, the obverse of an I proposition 'Some S is P' will be an O proposition 'Some S is not non-
P'. Taking a concrete example, the obverse of 'Some men are wise' is 'Some men are not non-
wise'.
According to rule 1, the predicate P of the obvertend will be changed to "non-P" in the obverse.
Thus, the obverse of an O proposition 'Some S is not P' will be an I proposition 'Some S is non-
P'. Taking a concrete example, the obverse of 'Some men are not wise' will be 'Some men are
non-wise'.
The square of opposition is a diagram representing the relations between the four basic categorical
propositions. This doctrine was discovered by Aristotle in the fourth century BC. The diagram for the
square of opposition is:
Two propositions are contradictory if they cannot both be true, and they cannot both be false.
Two propositions are contraries if they cannot both be true, but can both be false.
Two propositions are subcontraries if they cannot both be false, but can both be true.
A proposition is a subaltern of another if it must be true if its superaltern is true, and the
superaltern must be false if the subaltern is false.
In Aristotelian logic four relations were recognized between the four standard forms of propositions
which are:
1) Contrariety
The two universal propositions A and E are contrary to each other, because they differ
in quality only. That is, the proposition A is affirmative, while the proposition is
negative. They cannot both be true, but may both be false. Thus, if proposition A is
true, then E must be false and vice versa. For example:
A = All men are doctors
E = No men are doctors
2) Sub-Contrariety
The two particular propositions I and O are sub-contraries in so far as they differ in
quality only. The relation of sub-contrary is the opposite of contraries. In Sub-
contraries, the two propositions I and O may both be true. Thus, it is true that 'Some
men are doctors' and that 'Some men are not doctors'. They can both be true at the same
time. But they cannot both be false. There is no third possibility between them.
3) Contradiction or Contradictories
The relation of Contradiction is found between any two propositions which differ in
both quality and quantity, i.e., A and O, and E and I. For example:
A = All men are doctors.
O = Some men are not doctors.
These propositions differ in quality and quantity both. They cannot both be true, nor can they both be
false. If A is true, then O must be false and vice versa. Similarly, if E is true, then I must be false and
vice versa. The relationship of contradiction is the most perfect logical relation.
Kinds of Fallacy
1. Formal Fallacy
A formal fallacy, deductive fallacy, logical fallacy or non sequitur (Latin for "it does
not follow") is a flaw in the structure of a deductive argument which renders the
argument invalid. The flaw can neatly be expressed in standard system of logic. Such
an argument is always considered to be wrong.
In formal fallacies, the pattern of reasoning seems logical but is always wrong.
2. Informal Fallacy
An informal fallacy originates in a reasoning error other than a flaw in the logical form
of the argument. A deductive argument containing an informal fallacy may be formally
valid but remain rationally unpersuasive. Nevertheless, informal fallacies apply to both
deductive and non-deductive arguments.
Classification of Fallacy
1. Fallacies of Relevance
In these fallacies, the premises of the argument are simply not relevant to the
conclusion.
2. Fallacies of Defective Induction
In fallacies of Defective deduction, the mistake arises from the fact that the premises of
the argument, although relevant to the conclusion, are so weak and ineffective that
relying on them is a blunder.
3. Fallacies of Presumption
In fallacies of presumption, too much is assumed in the premises. The inference to the
conclusion depends mistakenly on these unwarranted assumptions.
4. Fallacies of Ambiguity
The incorrect reasoning in fallacies of ambiguity arises from the equivocal use of words
or phrases.
Some words or phrase in one part of the argument has a meaning different from that of
the same word or phrase in another part of the argument.
A term may have one sense in a premise but quite a different sense in the conclusion.
These kinds of mistakes are sometimes also known as “Sophisms”.