The Categorical Syllogism

Terms, General Rules, Figures and Moods, Special Rules

The high point towards which all the previous chapters have been building up is the categorical syllogism. It is so called because each of its three proposition is a categorical propositions. It is a complex logical unit made up of terms and propositions.

Terms of the Categorical Syllogism

1. Major Term- which is the predicate of the conclusion and is found in the major premise. 2. Minor Term- which is the subject of the conclusion and is found in the minor premise. 3. Middle Term- which is found in the two premises but not in the conclusion.

Example:
Major Premise: All men are rational beings;
Minor Premise: but Francis is a man MIDDLE TERM

Conclusion:

therefore Francis is a rational being.

^ MINOR TERM ^ MAJOR TERM

General Rules of the Categorical System

RULE 1
Only three terms in the syllogism (major, minor, middle) Violation of this rule is called fallacy of four or five or six terms. Ex: Cat rimes with fat but you are a member of the club Cat therefore you are fat. -FALLACY OF FIVE TERMS

RULE 2
Three terms should be arranged in the following manner:
Major term is the predicate of the conclusion and is found in the major premise. The minor term is the subject of the conclusion and is found in the minor premise. The middle term is found in the two premise but not in the conclusion. EXAMPLE: The sick man needs and operation; but tonsillectomy is an operation; therefore the sick man needs tonsillectomy.

- Therefore, RULE 2 is validated.

RULE 3
Major and minor terms should only be universal in the conclusion if they are universal in the premises. Example:
Every skyscraper is a building; But no bungalow is a skyscraper; therefore no bungalow is a building.

RULE 4 - Middle term must be universal at least once. example: All whales are sea creatures; but some sea creatures are sharks;

therefore some sharks are whales.

RULE 5 -If the two premises are affirmative, the conclusion must be affirmative. Ex: A= N Machines differ from animals;

A
N

but IBM computers are machines;

therefore IBM computers are not machines.

RULE 6
If one premise is affirmative and the other negative, the conclusion must be negative. Ex: Scholars are eligible for club membership; but Elena is not a scholar; therefore Elena is ineligible for club membership.

RULE 7 -The conclusion is invalid whenever the premises are both negative and not equivalently affirmative. ex: N=A N No Filipinos are not eligible; but Lim Chua is not a Filipino;

A=N

therefore Lim Chua is ineligible.

RULE 8
- One premise at least must be universal Example: All babies are human beings; but Micheal is a baby; therefore Micheal is a human being A A A

RULE 9
If one premise is particular, the conclusion must be particular. Example:
Some figures are parallelograms; But electricity is not a figure;

Therefore electricity is not a parallelogram.

RULE 10
- The subject of the conclusion , must be found in the minor premise.
Ex:
All men are mortal; But Ferdinand is a man;

Therefore Ferdinand is mortal.