Reduction of a Categorical Syllogism

Reduction to the First Figure

Reduction
The process of expressing in the first figure,
syllogisms that are validly expressed in other figures

The first figure is considered as the perfect figure

bArbArA, cElArEnt, dArII, fErIO

Process of Reduction
1. Each mood begins with one of these four letters:

B, C, D, F
Moods in figures 2, 3 and 4 beginning with one of
these letters maybe reduced to the mood of the First
Figure having the same initial.

The consonants s, p, m and c are key consonants

indicating the logical operation to be performed in
order to obtain a syllogism in one of the four moods of
the first figure.
Process of Reduction
s – simple conversion = the proposition symbolized by the vowel
preceding s should be converted simply

Figure 2 fEstInO
No terrorists are virtuous.
Some policemen are virtuous.
Some policemen are not terrorists.
Reduction to Figure 1 – fErIO
No virtuous are terrorists.
Some policemen are virtuous.
Some policemen are not terrorists.
* The vowel E is followed by s signifying that the major premise must
undergo simple conversion.
Process of Reduction
Figure 3 fErIsOn
No rash men are prudent.
Some rash men are brave.
Some brave men are not prudent.
Reduction to Figure 1 – fErIO
No rash men are prudent.
Some brave men are rash.
Some brave men are prudent.
* The vowel I is followed by s signifying that the minor
premise must undergo simple conversion.
Process of Reduction
Figure 4 frEsIsOn
No lazy person is creative.
Some creative individuals are artists.
Some artists are not lazy persons.
Reduction to Figure 1 fErIO
No creative person is lazy
Some artists are creative individuals.
Some artists are not lazy persons.
*The vowel E is followed by s signifying that the major premise must
undergo simple conversion.
* The vowel I is followed by s signifying that the minor premise must
undergo simple conversion.
Process of Reduction
p- per accidens (accidental conversion) = the proposition signified by
the vowel preceding p should be converted in such a manner that from
universal it becomes particular and vice versa.
Figure3 dArAptI
All Dominican priests are cerebral
All Dominican priests are deep thinkers.
Some deep thinkers are cerebral
Reduction to Figure 1 dArII
All Dominican priests are cerebral.
Some deep thinkers are Dominican priests.
Some deep thinkers are cerebral.
* The vowel A is followed by p signifying that the minor premise must
undergo accidental conversion
Process of Reduction
Figure 4 fEsApO
All brutes are not beings capable of speech.
All beings capable of speech are organisms.
Some organisms are not brutes.
Reduction to Figure 1 fErIO
All beings capable of speech are not brutes.
Some organisms are beings capable of speech.
Some organisms are not brutes.
* The vowel E is followed by s signifying that the major
premise must undergo simple conversion.
* The vowel A is followed by p signifying that the minor
premise must undergo accidental conversion
Process of Reduction
m- mutation = the original major premise must occupy the place of the
new minor premise; and the original minor premise must occupy the
place of the new major premise.

Figure 4 dImArIs
Some lawyers are liars
All liars are immoral
Some immoral are lawyers
Reduction to Figure 1 dArII
All liars are immoral
Some lawyers are liars.
Some lawyers are immoral
*The consonant m is between the vowels I and A
Process of Reduction
Figure 2 cAmEstrEs
All political aspirants are rich businessmen
No student is a rich businessman
No student is a political aspirant
Reduction to Figure 1 cElArEnt
No rich businessman is a student.
All political aspirants are rich businessmen.
No political aspirants are students
*A is followed by m, signifying mutation
*E is followed by s, signifying simple conversion
Process of Reduction
c = contradictory of the original conclusion – the contradictory of
the original conclusion is to be substituted for the contradictory of
the premise preceding c

Figure 3 bOcArdO
Some government employees are not punctual
All government employees are candidates for promotion
Some candidates for promotion are not punctual
Reduction to Figure 1 bArbAra
All candidates for promotion are punctual
All government employees are candidates for promotion
All government employees are punctual
Process of Reduction
Figure 2 bArOcO
All Filipinos are hospitable
Some youth delegates are not hospitable
Some youth delegates are not Filipinos

Reduction to Figure 1 bArbArA

All Filipinos are hospitable
All youth delegates are Filipinos
All youth delegates are hospitable
Exercises
Supply the missing conclusion of the following
premises. Then identify the figure and the mood.
Finally, reduce to perfect mood of Figure 1.

1. No mountaineer is an introvert.

But , some introverts are withdrawn.
Figure Mood Reduce to
MP
mp
C
2. All chance meeting s are mysterious encounters
But, some human relationships are not mysterious encounters.

Figure Mood Reduce to

MP
mp
C
3. All adventurers are thrill hunters.
But, all thrill hunters are risk-takers.

Figure Mood Reduce to

MP
mp
C
4. Some trouble-makers are attention-seekers.
But, all trouble-makers are grief-stricken

Figure Mood Reduce to

MP
Mp
C
5. All insane people are maladjusted.
But, all maladjusted are not deep-thinkers.

Figure Mood Reduce to

MP
mp
C