Chapter 1.

6, Problem 22E

Problem

Which rules of inference are used to establish the conclusion of Lewis Carroll’s argument
described in Example 27 of Section 1.4?

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 3

When there are many premises, several rules of interference are often needed to show that an
argument is valid.

Step 2 of 3
Consider the statements described by Lewis Carroll’s argument of which the first three are
premises and the fourth is a valid conclusion;

“All hummingbirds are richly colored”

“No large birds live on honey”

“Birds that do not live on honey are dull in color”

“Hummingbirds are small”

Now to show that all hummingbirds are small, consider is any hummingbird.

From the first premise if is a hummingbird, then, is richly colored.

Therefore, is richly colored.

Next by third premise is richly colored, then, does not live on honey.

Therefore, is richly colored and does not live on honey.

Step 3 of 3

From second premise does not live on honey that it is not a large bird.

Therefore, is richly colored and does not live on honey and not a large bird.

And so, “ is small bird”.

Hence, all hummingbirds are small.

The rule of inference used here to establish the conclusion is Modes ponens.