The Syllogistic Argument Schema or Pattern of the Categorical Syllogism
Syllogism “P” major term -standard expression of argument in Aristotelian logic “S” minor term -basic form of argument wherein it is arranged orderly as “M” middle term to show the structure or form of the argument and “u” universal term important terms and propositions to facilitate logical “p” particular term analysis “+” affirmative proposition -set of three propositions, first two being the premises “-“ negative proposition and the last as the conclusion
THE GENERAL LAWS GOVERNING CATEGORICAL ARGUMENT
Matter 1. Dictum de Omni -consists of various ideas/terms and -states that whatever is affirmed universally, in a judgments/propositions of the argument or syllogism formal manner, of a logical whole or class, should -what the argument is all about, the substance, content also be affirmed of its logical parts. and meaning If “all X are Y” -what the argument says And “some Z are X” Then “some Z are Y” Form 2. Dictum de Nullo -consists of logical connection of the ideas/terms and -states that whatever is denied universally, in a judgments/propositions by virtue of which the formal manner, of a logical whole or class, should conclusion follows necessarily from the given premises also be denied of its logical parts. If “all X are not Y” -structure, patterns or flow of argument or syllogism And “some Z are X” Then “some Z are not Y” Kinds of Syllogism 3. If each of two concepts agrees respectively with 1. Categorical Syllogism the same third concept, then they also agree -composed of categorical propositions with each other. -first two are the premises and third is the If A agrees with C conclusion And B agrees with A -contains three terms: minor, major, middle Then B and C agrees with each other. 2. Hypothetical Syllogism 4. If one concept agrees with a third term and the -composed of hypothetical propositions other disagrees with the same third term, then -terms are not identified as major, minor or they disagree with each other. middle If A agrees with B But C does not agree with A THE CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM Then B and C do not agree with each other. -composed of 3 categorical propositions (major premise, 5. If each two terms disagrees respectively with minor premise, conclusion) and 3 terms (major term, the same term then nothing can follow or can minor term and middle term). be concluded. If A is not B And C is not A Then nothing follows.
[Comments] PHILOSOPHY 1A REVIEWER The 8 Laws of Categorical Syllogism terms agree with the same third term and 1. There must only be 3 terms in the syllogism. therefore should agree with each other. These term are the major term, minor term and a. Fallacy of Negative Conclusion middle term. + + = + valid a. Fallacy of four-term construction + + = - invalid -committed when there are four terms 6. No conclusion can be drawn from two negative instead of three terms in the syllogism premises. If two terms do not agree with the b. Fallacy of equivocation same third term, the argument cannot proceed -happens when one term expresses two since there will be no common ground. Hence for different meanings in the syllogism the syllogism to be valid, one premise must be 2. No term may have a greater extension in the affirmative. conclusion than in the premises. This means a. Fallacy of two negative premises that neither the major nor the minor term may -two negative propositions where no be universal in the conclusion if they are only conclusion can be concluded particular in the premises. --=? a. Fallacy of Illicit Major Term 7. No valid conclusion can be derived from two -committed when the major term has wider particular premises. A syllogism with two or greater extension in the conclusion than particular premises will always violate one or in the major premise or when the major more rules of inference, like undistributed term is particular in the major premise and middle term or illicit process. Hence for the universal in the conclusion syllogism to be valid, one premise must be b. Fallacy of Illicit Minor Term universal. -committed when the minor term has the a. Fallacy of double particular premises wider or greater extension in the conclusion -committed when there are two particular than in the minor premise or when the minor premises term is particular in the minor premise and 8. The conclusion always follows the weaker side. universal in the conclusion. If one premise is negative, conclusion must be 3. The middle term must not appear in the negative. If one premise is particular, conclusion conclusion. The middle term is always in the must be particular. premises. a. Fallacy of a stronger conclusion than the a. Misplaced middle term premises -committed when the middle term appears + - = - (valid) in the conclusion + - = + (invalid) 4. The middle term must be taken as a universal in All some = some (valid) the premises at least once. The middle term All some = all (invalid) cannot appear in the premises twice as FIGURE OF THE SYLLOGISM particular, but it could be universal twice. -pattern or arrangement of the syllogism based on the a. Undistributed middle term position of the middle term in the premises -happens when the middle term is taken twice as Middle term may occupy 4 different positions in the a particular in both premises premises: 5. If both premises are affirmative, the conclusion a. Subject of the Major premise must be affirmative. Two affirmative b. Predicate of the Major premise propositions means that the major and minor c. Subject of the Minor premise d. Predicate of the Minor premise [Comments] PHILOSOPHY 1A REVIEWER MOOD OF THE SYLLOGISM IAI dImArIs -pattern of syllogism based on the type of the EAO fEsApO propositions that composed the syllogism, these types EIO frEsIsOn are the A E I O. -64 possible but 19 valid REDUCTION TO THE FIRST FIGURE Figure I M P Reduction S M -process of expressing in first figure the moods which are valid S P in other figures
AAA bArbArA First Figure –perfect figure
Barbara mood –perfect mood EAE cElArEnt AII dArII Keys to Reduction EIO fErIO S -simple conversion Figure II -converted simply P M -interchanging the subject and predicate without changing the S M quality and quantity of the proposition S P P
EAE cEsArE -accidental conversion
-converted accidentally AEE cAmEstrEs -interchanging the subject and predicate and also changing the EIO fEstInO quantity of the proposition so if it is a universal proposition it A O O bArOcO becomes particular M Figure III -mutation M P -two premises must be interchanged M S *m and p accidental conversion first then interchanged C S P -contradiction AAI dArAptI -Bocardo and Baroco only IAI dIsAmIs -contradict the two O propositions and then interchange them AII dAtIsI Pattern or Form (Schema) of the Categorical Proposition EAO fElAptOn A Universal affirmative EIO fErIsOn Su + Pp, Su + Pu (definition) O A O bOcArdO E Universal negative Figure IV Su – Pu P M I Particular Affirmative M S Sp + Pp
S P O Particular Negative Sp – Pu AAI brAmAntIp AEE cAmEnEs
