Tambio, Henriel T.

HUM 002 – Logic

1.  Explain the meaning of syllogism and categorical syllogism.

A syllogism is a kind of logical argument in which one proposition (the
conclusion) is inferred from two or more others (the premises) of a certain
form. While categorical syllogism is an argument consisting of exactly three
categorical propositions (two premises and a conclusion) in which there
appear a total of exactly three categorical terms.

2.  Differentiate major term, minor term, and middle term.

The major term of the syllogism is whatever is employed as the
predicate term of its conclusion. The minor term is the subject term of the
conclusion.  While the middle term is the term that occurs in both premises
(but not in the conclusion).

3. Compare major premise with minor premise.

In a categorical syllogism, major premise is the premise whose
terms are the syllogism's major term and middle term. While minor premise
is the premise whose terms are the syllogism's minor term and middle term.

4. Give an example of a valid categorical syllogism.

A valid example of categorical syllogism is: All fish swim. (Major
Premise) Every shark is a fish. (Minor Premise) Therefore every shark
swim. (Conclusion)

5. Distinguish the error or fallacy committed for violating each rules of

categorical syllogism.
There must be only three terms in the syllogism. Violating this rule is
called fallacy of four terms. The terms in categorical syllogism are univocal,
violation of this rule if called fallacy of equivocation. Neither the major nor
the minor term may be distributed in the conclusion, if it is undistributed in
the premises. Violation to these are called illicit process of the major if the
problematic term is distributed in the conclusion but not in the major
premise and the other violation is the illicit process of the minor if the
problematic term is distributed in the conclusion but not in the minor
premise. The middle term must not appear in the conclusion. Violation to
this is called fallacy of the misplaced middle term. The middle term must be
distributed at least once in the premises. Violation to this is called fallacy of
undistributed middle term. No conclusion can be drawn from two negative
premises. Violation to this rule is called fallacy of negative premises. If one
premise is particular, the conclusion must also be particular; if one premise
is negative, the conclusion must be negative. No conclusion can be drawn
from two particular premises. Violation to this is called fallacy of particular
premise.