CHAPTER 5: CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS

01 Categorical Syllogism propositions in the syllogism.

 is a form of mediate inference that involves the Example:

explication of related ideas expressed through three o The major term is the predicate of the
categorical prepositions conclusion.
o The minor term is the subject of the conclusion.
Example: o The middle term must occur in each of the
All free beings are capable of self-actualization; premises but not the conclusion
All persons are free beings;
Hence, all persons are capable of self-actualization This second rule for categorical syllogisms relates to
the number of propositions and position of the terms
Since no woman is a man; in such inference.
No man is evil; a. As to the number of propositions.
Therefore, no woman is evil b. As to the placement of the terms.

02 MEDIATE INFERENCE Example:

o All acts constituting election fraud are violative of
 is the derivation of a conclusion from at least two the electorate’s rights;
identified related facts as premises o Vote buying is an act of constituting election
fraud;
o Hence, vote buying is violative of the electorate’s
rights.

3. The terms in the conclusion may only be universal

if they are universal in the premises.
 The major term must not be universal in the
conclusion unless it is universal in the premise
03 THE FORMAL RULES FOR VALID CATEGORICAL
where it appears. violating this rule "extends "
SYLLOGISMS
the major term in the conclusion.

 The minor term must not be universal in the

1. There should be only three terms in a categorical
conclusion unless it is universal in the premises.
syllogism. They are the major term, minor term,
violating this rule "extends" the minor term in
and the middle term.
the conclusion
A violation of this rule is incidentally coined as the
commission of the fallacy of four terms Example:

o Computer viruses are data anomalies;

EXAMPLES:
o Aerial spraying is a procedure detrimental to the o Some computer viruses are not intentionally
environment; created by hackers;
o Any procedure that is detrimental to the o Hence, some programs intentionally created by
environment is morally censured; hackers are not data anomalies.
o Therefore, aerial spraying is a practice that
needs to be discontinued.

Consider the following:

Here, we have four terms:
o Anything that is of much violence and gore is
a. aerial spraying
b. a procedure detrimental to the environment, negatively influential;
c. morally censured, and o Some online computer games are of much violence
d. practice that needs to be discontinued. and gore;
o Hence, all online computer games are negatively
influential.
2. A categorical syllogism is composed of only three
categorical propositions. Each term must occur in
two
  This rule simply translates to the maxim that the
4. The middle term must occur as universal at least premises must not be negative altogether
once  Nothing can flow from a set of negative premises
 A twin or dual denial in the premises will make it
 The middle term must be universal at least once, absolutely impossible for a conclusion (negative or
in either the major or minor premise positive) to result therefrom
 The failure to do so results to the failure of the
distribution of the middle term. Example:
 The middle term must be distributed in the Plastics are not biodegradable;
premises to allow the establishment of the Natural fibers are not plastics;
necessary relation of both the minor and major (No conclusion)
terms in the conclusion

8. One of the premises must be universal

Example:  It is essential to deductive reasoning that at
Some birds are endangered species; least one of the premises must be universal
All pigeons are birds;  From this universal premise, or premises, the
Hence, some pigeons are endangered species less or equivalently general or universal truth is
drawn.

5. If both the premises are positive, the conclusion is Example:

positive o All forms of violence are encroachments of
 This rule requires for the premises to be both one’s right to autonomy;
positive in order for the conclusion to be positive o All verbal abuses are forms of evidence;
 A positive consequent is inevitable if the same o Hence, all verbal abuses are encroachments of
flows from positive premises one right to autonomy.
 It becomes unacceptable for the conclusion to be
negative if both of the premises are positive
o All forms of violence are encroachments of
Example: one’s right to autonomy;
Underhanded business practice are deplorable; o Some verbal abuses are forms of evidence;
Hoarding is an underhanded business practice; o Hence, some verbal abuses are encroachments
Hence, hoarding is not deplorable of one right to autonomy.

6. If one of the premises is negative, the conclusion is 9. If one of the premises is particular, the conclusion is
negative particular

 Generally, as a rule, an equally universal conclusion

 This rule treats syllogisms where one of the results from a syllogism with completely universal
premises denies a factor circumstance premises
 This, in effect, cuts off the effective relationship of Example:
the terms in the premises resulting to the
negative conclusion o All senators are public servants;
 It becomes logically anomalous and practically o Some lawmakers are senators;
irregular if despite a denial in one one of the o Hence, some lawmakers are public servants.
premises, an affirmative conclusion results

Example: 10. Nothing may be asserted in the conclusion which

All public properties are for common use and benefit; has not been asserted in the premises
Some roads are not public properties; Some roads are
for common use and benefit.  According to rule two, except for the middle term,
the terms
 in the conclusion are the same terms in the
premises.
7. One of the premises must be positive, otherwise,  Hence, a new term in the conclusion is misplaced
the syllogism is invalid
Example:
Those who are forgiving are humble;
Ms. Cruz is forgiving;
Hence, Ms. Cruz is a Catholic

Those who are forgiving are humble;

Ms. Cruz is forgiving;
Therefore, those who are good are blessed.