BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI

Second Semester - 2006-2007

SYMBOLIC LOGIC
PHIL C221
Comprehensive Examination

Room No. 1218/1220/1223 Max Marks 40.0

Date: 12.05.2007 Duration 3 Hours

1. Define Logic. State and discuss with the help of examples the nature and scope of
deductive argument in quantification logic. (4.0)

2. Define categorical syllogism. State and discuss in brief the nature and parts of a
standard form categorical syllogism. Use an example to strengthen your answer. (4.0)

3. Put each of the following syllogisms into standard form, name its mood and figure,
and test its validity by means of Rules.
(a) All CD players are expensive and delicate mechanisms, but no expensive and
delicate mechanisms are suitable toys for children; consequently, no CD
players are suitable toys for children.
(b) Some pediatricians are not specialists in surgery, so some general
practitioners are not pediatricians, since some general practitioners are not
specialists in surgery.
(4.0 × 2 = 8.0)
4. Symbolize the following statements:
Modern Propositional Logic
a) It is not the case that neither Iran nor Libya raises the price of oil.
b) Argentina will mobilize if either Brazil protests to the UN or Chile calls for a
meeting of all the Latin American States.
c) If either Socrates was happily married or else he wasn’t, then Socrates was a great
philosopher.
Quantification Logic
d) All policemen are either corrupt or underweight.
e) Cats and dogs bite if they are either angry or frightened.
f) No man is good unless he is honest. (6.0)

5. Construct a formal proof of validity (but not CP or IP) for each of the following
arguments, beginning with symbolization in the second argument:
a) (~ A v B)  (C  D)
(~ E ∙ ~ F)  (D  G)
(A  E) ∙ (E  A)
(~ E ∙  F) ∙ ~ H /C  G
b) If Andhra Pradesh or Karnataka wins the match then Delhi will qualify. If
Mumbai wins the match then Andhra Pradesh wins the match. Therefore, if
Mumbai wins the match then Delhi will qualify. (4.0 × 2 = 8.0)

1
6. Symbolize and prove the invalidity of the following argument, using a model
containing two elements a and b.
All Indians are public-spirited citizens and some state employees are public-spirited
citizens. Therefore, all Indians are state employees. (4.0)

7. Write a brief note on each of the following:

a) Truth functionality
b) Modern Square of Opposition (3.0 × 2 = 6.0)