HYPOTHETICAL SYLLOGISMS

HYPOTHETICAL SYLLOGISM is an argument whose major premise is made up of a hypothetical proposition

and whose minor premise and conclusion are categorical propositions. Hypothetical syllogisms are either
CONDITIONAL, DISJUNCTIVE, or CONJUNCTIVE ARGUMENTS.

THE CONDITIONAL SYLLOGISM
The major premise of a conditional syllogism is a conditional proposition consisting of an antecedent and a
consequent. The antecedent is what serves as the cause, while the consequent is what follows as an effect.
Example: If it rains, then the ground wiII be wet.
(antecedent) (consequent)
n this example, there is a causal relation between the rain and the wet ground. The minor premise affirms or
denies either the antecedent or the consequent of the major premise. The conclusion merely expresses
whatever follows from the affirmation or denial by the minor premise of either the antecedent or consequent of
the major premise.
Symbolically, the conditional syllogism can be stated as follows:
If A is B, then X is Y. If you pass the board exams, then you wiII be a CPA.
A is B. You passed the board exams.
.: X is Y. .: You are CPA.
Or
If A is B, then X is Y. If you are brave, then you wiII stand up and speak.
X is not Y. You do not stand up and speak.
.: A is not B. .: You are not brave.

KINDS OF CONDITIONAL SYLLOGISM
There are two kinds of conditional syllogism: the CONSTRUCTIVE CONDITIONAL and the DESTRUCTIVE
CONDITIONAL.
The CONSTRUCTIVE CONDITIONAL SYLLOGISM is an argument whose major premise is a
conditional proposition, whose minor premise affirms the antecedent and whose conclusion affirms the
consequent.
Symbolically, the syllogism may be stated, thus:
If A is B, then X is Y. If you are honest, then peopIe wiII admire you.
A is B. You are honest.
.: X is Y. .: PeopIe wiII admire you.
ShouId the minor premise affirms the consequent and the concIusion affirms the antecedent, the
argument wouId become INVALID, as it wouId be a case of FALSE CONSEQUENT.
Example: If A is B, then X is Y. If you are honest, then peopIe wiII admire you.
X is Y. PeopIe admire you.
.: A is B. .: You are honest.
The DESTRUCTIVE CONDITIONAL SYLLOGISM is an argument whose major premise is a conditional
proposition, whose minor premise denies the consequent and whose conclusion denies the antecedent of the
major premise.
Symbolically, the syllogism may be stated as:
Example: If A is B, then X is Y. If you are ambitious, then you can attain progress.
X is not Y. You do not attain progress.
.: A is not B. .: You are not ambitious.
ShouId the minor premise deny the antecedent and the concIusion deny the consequent, the
argument wouId be INVALID, as it wouId be the case of FALSE ANTECEDENT.
Example: If A is B, then X is Y. If you are weak, then you wiII not survive the ordeaI.
A is not B. You are not weak.
.: X is not Y. .: You wiII not survive the ordeaI.
RULES OF CONDITIONAL SYLLOGISM:
1. IF THE MINOR PREMISE AFFIRMS THE ANTECEDENT, THE CONCLUSION MUST AFFIRM THE
CONSEQUENT OF THE MAJOR PREMISE, BUT NOT VICE-VERSA.
2. IF THE MINOR PREMISE DENIES THE CONSEQUENT, THE CONCLUSION MAY DENY THE
ANTECEDENT OF THE MAJOR PREMISE, BUT NOT VICE-VERSA.
SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS
t should be noted that in cases where the conditional propositions are EMPIRICAL, the rules enumerated
above hold true. However, in cases where the conditional propositions are FORMAL, the rules as stated,
cannot be applied. The reason is that, in conditionaI formaI propositions, the consequent is aIready
contained in the antecedent, or vice-versa. Hence, the rules governing conditional syllogism whose major
premises are formal in nature are as follows:


If the minor premise affirms the antecedent, the concIusion may affirm the consequent, and vice-versa.
To illustrate: If A is B, then X is Y. If it is square, then it has four equaI sides.
A is B. It is square.
.: X is Y. .: It has four equaI sides.

If A is B, then X is Y. If it is square, then it has four equaI sides.
X is Y. It has four equaI sides.
.: A is B. .: It is a square.

If the minor premise denies the consequent, the concIusion may deny the antecedent, and vice-versa.
To illustrate: If A is B, then X is Y. If it is a circIe, then aII of its points are equidistant from within the
center.
X is not Y. AII its points are not equidistant from within the center.
.: A is not B. .: It is not a circIe.

If A is B, then X is Y. If it is a circIe, then aII of its points are equidistant from within the
center.
A is not B. It is not a circIe.
.: X is not Y. .: AII of its points are not equidistant from within the center.
NOTE: What justifies the affirmation of the consequent or the deniaI of the antecedent in the minor
premise is the fact that formaI conditionaI propositions are simpIy definitions or statements whose
subject impIies the predicate or vice-versa.

VALID MOODS OF CONDITIONAL SYLLOGISMS
For EMPIRICAL CONDITIONAL CONSTRUCTIVE SYLLOGISMS, otherwise known as MODUS
PONENS (POSITING MOOD):
If A is B, then X is Y. If A is B, then X is not Y.
A is B. A is B.
.: X is Y. .: X is not Y.

If A is not B, then X is Y. If A is not B, then X is not Y.
A is not B. A is not B.
.: X is Y. .: X is not Y.

For EMPIRICAL CONDITIONAL DESTRUCTIVE SYLLOGISMS, otherwise known as MODUS
TOLLENS (SUBLATING MOOD):
If A is B, then X is Y. If A is B, then X is not Y.
X is not Y. X is Y.
.: A is not B. .: A is not B.

If A is not B, then X is Y. If A is not B, then X is not Y.
X is not Y. X is Y.
.: A is B. .: A is B.

For FORMAL CONDTIONAL CONSTRUCTIVE SYLLOGISMS, otherwise known as MODUS
PONENS (POSITING MOOD):
If A is B, then X is Y. If A is B, then X is Y.
A is B. X is Y.
.: X is Y. .: A is B.

If A is B, then X is not Y. If A is not B, then X is Y.
A is B. X is Y.
.: X is not Y. .: A is not B.

If A is not B, then X is Y. If A is not B, then X is Y.
A is not B. X is Y.
.: X is Y. .: A is not B.


If A is not B, then X is not Y. If A is not B, then X is not Y.
A is not B. X is not Y.
.: X is not Y. .: A is not B.

For FORMAL CONDITIONAL DESTRUCTIVE SYLLOGISMS, otherwise known as MODUS
TOLLENS (SUBLATING MOOD):
If A is B, then X is Y. If A is B, then X is Y.
X is not Y. A is not B.
.: A is not B. .: X is not Y.

If A is B, then X is not Y. If A is B, then X is not Y.
X is Y. A is not B.
.: A is not B. .: X is Y.

If A is not B, then X is Y. If A is not B, then X is Y.
X is not Y. A is B.
.: A is B. .: X is not Y.

If A is not B, then X is not Y. If A is not B, then X is not Y.
X is Y. A is B.
.: A is B. .: X is Y.



THE DISJUNCTIVE SYLLOGISM

The DISJUNCTIVE SYLLOGISM is defined as an argument whose major premise consists of alternative
statements (by using either . or .) one or the other of which is supposed to be true. The minor premise
affirms or denies one of the alternatives, while the conclusion denies or affirms whatever is left from the
affirmation or denial by the minor premise.
To illustrate: A is either B or C. The criminaI is either dead or aIive.
A is B. The criminaI is dead.
.: A is n not C. .: The criminaI is not aIive.

A is either B or C. The stars are either in motion or at rest.
A is not C. The stars are not at rest.
.: A is B. .: The stars are in motion.

VALIDITY OF DISJUNCTIVE STATEMENTS

DISJUNCTIVE SYLLOGISMS depend on the disjunctive or alternative statements which serve as their major
premise. And, disjunctive statements are valid only to the extent that alternatives are:
a) mutuaIIy excIusive of each other: otherwise, the affirmation of one wouId not necessariIy entaiI
the deniaI of the other.
b) exhaustive or compIete so that there can be no middIe or other possibiIities Ieft unmentioned.
RULES OF DISJUNCTIVE SYLLOGISMS:
1. If the aIternatives of the major premise are not mutuaIIy excIusive, we can deny one and affirm
the other, but we cannot affirm one and deny the other.
2. If the aIternatives of the major premise are mutuaIIy excIusive, we can deny or affirm one and
affirm or deny the other.
To illustrate:
The candidate is either honest or dishonest.
The candidate is honest.
.: The candidate is not honest. ( valid )

The candidate is either honest or dishonest.
The candidate is not dishonest.
.: The candidate is honest. ( valid )



God is either kind or merciful.
God is merciful.
.: God is not kind. ( invalid )

Our officials are either stupid or honest.
Our officials are stupid.
.: our officials are not honest. ( invalid )

The first two syllogisms are valid because the alternatives of the major premise are mutually exclusive and
exhaustive. On the other hand, syllogisms 3 and 4 are invalid for the reason that the alternatives are neither
exclusive or exhaustive.

MOODS OF DISJUNCTIVE SYLLOGISMS
THE POSITING MOOD - this mood requires that the minor premise affirm one of the aIternatives of the
major premise and that the concIusion deny the other.
A is either B or C. The murderer is either sane or insane.
A is B. The murderer is sane.
.: A is not C. .: The murderer is not insane.

A is either B or C. The person is either a maIe or a femaIe.
A is C. The person is femaIe.
.: A is not B. .: The person is not maIe.

THE SUBLATING MOOD - this mood requires that the minor premise deny one of the aIternatives of
the major premise and that the concIusion affirm the other.
A is either B or C. The baII is either in motion or at rest.
A is not B. The baII is not in motion.
.: A is C. .: The baII is at rest.

A is either B or C. This 100 peso biII is either genuine or fake.
A is not C. This 100 peso biII is not fake.
.: A is B. .: This 100 peso biII is genuine.


THE CONJUNCTIVE SYLLOGISMS

The CONJUNCTIVE SYLLOGISM is an argument whose major premise is a conjunctive proposition. A
CONJUNCTIVE PROPOSITION unites two predicates or aIternatives which cannot be true at the same
time.
For example: "We cannot be in school and at the movies at the same time.
Symbolically, this argument can be stated, thus:
A cannot B and C at the same time. God cannot be kind and crueI at the same time.
A is B. God is kind.
.: A is not C. .: God is not crueI.
RULE GOVERNING CONJUNCTIVE SYLLOGISM
"If the minor premise affirms one of the predicates, the concIusion must deny the other, but not vice-
versa".
Example: A cannot be B and C at the same time. Pedro cannot be in ManiIa and in Cebu at the
same time.
A is B. Pedro is in ManiIa.
.: A is not C. .: Pedro cannot be in Cebu.
Hence, the following is invalid.
A cannot be B and C. We cannot read and sIeep at the same time.
A is not C. We are not reading.
.: A is B. .: We are sIeeping.
What makes the above example invalid is the fact that because "we are not reading does not necessarily
mean that "we are sleeping. The fact is, we may be doing something else. Hence, the conclusion is
unwarranted.



UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST
CALOOCAN CAMPUS
LOGIC - quiz
Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
DIRECTIONS: Write out the proper concIusion to these conditionaI syIIogisms if the minor premise is
vaIid. If the minor premise is invaIid, write "No ConcIusion".
. f No S is T, then Some R is not W.
a. No S is T, therefore _______________________________________________________________
b. Some R is not W, therefore _________________________________________________________
c. All S is T, therefore ________________________________________________________________
2. f Each A is B, then No C is D.
a. Each A is B, therefore _____________________________________________________________
b. All C is D, therefore _______________________________________________________________
c. Each A is not B, therefore __________________________________________________________
3. f Some A is not L, then All M is not S.
a. All M is not S, therefore ____________________________________________________________
b. Every M is S, therefore _____________________________________________________________
c. Some A is not L, therefore __________________________________________________________
4. f Every J is K, then Each H is .
a. Each H is , therefore ______________________________________________________________
b. Every J is K, therefore _____________________________________________________________
c. No H is , therefore ________________________________________________________________
5. f you obey the traffic rules, you won't be penalized.
a. You are penalized, therefore ________________________________________________________
b. You obey the traffic rules, therefore ___________________________________________________
c. You didn't obey the traffic rules, therefore ______________________________________________
6. f the witness is found guilty of the crime of rape, then he will be imprisoned.
a. He is imprisoned, therefore _________________________________________________________
b. He was not found guilty of the crime of rape, therefore ____________________________________
c. He is not imprisoned, therefore _______________________________________________________
DIRECTIONS: You are asked to suppIy the correct concIusion.
. His disease is either acquired or congenital.
t is congenital.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
2. You have to be confident if you want to join the ranks of the intellectuals.
You belong to the ranks of the intellectuals.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
3. You cannot smile and frown at the same time.
You are not smiling.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
4. All pains are either self-inflicted or not personally caused.
They are self-inflicted.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
5. One who loves his family can't be indifferent to their needs.
This man gives no concern for the needs of his family.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
6. Silence is either relaxing or not comforting.
t is not comforting.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
7. The payment cannot be advanced or delayed at the same time.
t is delayed.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
8. Our fears are either imagined or real.
They cannot be imagined.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
9. f A is B, then A is not D.
A is D.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________
. A promise is either made to be broken or to be fulfilled.
He did not fulfill his promise.
.: __________________________________________________________________________________