Equivalent Propositions

An equivalent proposition is a proposition that has

the same meaning or truth-value with proposition
from which it is restated. It is the second type of
immediate inference, and is also known as
eduction or restating propositions.
Three Equivalent propositions (Eduction):
1. Obversion
-is a process of eduction consisting of two changes:
1.) changing the quality of the proposition (leaving
the quantity the same) and 2.) changing the
predicate term to its contradictory or complement.
The Rules on Obversion:
Rule 1. Retain the subject and the quantity
of the proposition.
Rule 2. Change the quality of the
proposition.
Rule 3. Substitute the predicate by its
contradictory or complementary term.
Note: There are certain prefixes in English that
indicate contradiction or
complementariness.
Ex. un, non, in, im, dis, mal, etc.
Application of the Rules
Obvertend: (A) All senators are elected officials. True
ste Mechanics Drafted
p Obverse
1 Based on the 1 st
rule the All senators
quantifier all and the subject
term senators shall be
retained.
2 Based on the 2nd rule we need No
to change the quantifier all to senators
no which signifies a negative
and a universal proposition.
3 Based on the 3rd rule the No senators
original predicate elected are non-
officials will be changed to
elected
Obverse: (E)-No senators are non-elected officials. True
non-elected officials.
Extent of Applicability:
A Propositions (A to E)
Obvertend: All Filipinos are Asians. (A)-True
Obverse: No Filipinos are non-Asians. (E)-True
E Propositions (E to A)
Obvertend: No Catholics are non-believers. (E)-True
Obverse: All Catholics are believers of God. (A)-True
I Propositions (I to O)
Obvertend: Some snakes are poisonous animals. (I)-True
Obverse: Some snakes are not non-poisonous animals. (O)-
True
O propositions (O to I)
Obvertend: Some cars are not Honda Civics. (O)- True
Obverse: Some cars are non-Honda Civics. (I)- True
2. Conversion is a process of eduction
consisting of a single change that is, switching the
subject term and the predicate term.
The Rules on Conversion:
Rule 1. Interchange the subject and the predicate
terms.
Rule 2. retain the quality of the proposition.
Rule 3. Do not extend any term.
A and E
Application of the Rules
Convertend: (I) Some women are politicians. True
ste Mechanics Drafted Obverse
p
1 Based on the 1st rule politicians +
the terms women women
and politicians should (subject)
be interchanged. (predicate)
2 Based on the 2nd rule politicians are
(retain the quality of women.
the proposition) (affirmative)
Converse:
3 Based (I)-Some
on the politicians
3 rd
rule are women.
Some True
(non-extension of the politicians are
term) women.
Extent of Applicability:
Simple Conversion
E Propositions (E to E)
Convertend: No apples are mangoes. (E)-True
Converse: No Mangoes are apples. (E)-True
Convertend: No dogs are animals. (E)-False
Converse: No animals are dogs. (E)-False
I Propositions (I to I)
Convertend: Some heroes are braves. (I)-True
Converse: Some braves are heroes. (I)-True
Convertend: Some fruits are stones. (I)-False
Converse: Some stones are fruits. (I)-False
Partial conversion (A to I)
Convertend: All gold jewelries are expensive objects. (A)-
True
Converse: Some expensive objects are gold jewelries. (I)-
True
Note: 1. A propositions with predicate terms as
definitions can be converted by simple conversion.
Convertend: All Mothers are women who gave birth. (A)-
True
Converse: All women who gave birth are mothers. (I)-True
2. There is no partial conversion of a false A
propositions.
3. Contraposition is a process of eduction
which combines conversion and obversion.
The Rules on Contraposition:
Rule 1. Interchange the subject and the predicate
terms.
Rule 2. Substitute the new subject and predicate
terms with their contradictory or complementary
term.
Rule 3. Retain the quantity and quality of the
proposition.
Application of the Rules
Contraponend: (A) All students are learners. True
ste Mechanics Drafted Obverse
p
1 Based on the 1st rule learners +
the terms learners students
and students should (subject)
be interchanged. (predicate)
2 Based on the 2nd rule Non-learners +
we need to add the (subject)
prefix non to both non- students
the subject and
(predicate)
predicate
Contrapositive: terms.
(A)-All non-learners are non-students.
3 True
Based on the 3rd rule All non-
the quantifier all and learners are
Summary: Contraposition is the same thing as a
successive obversion, conversion and obversion
of a proposition.
Step 1. Obversion: Get the obverse of the given
original proposition which serves as your
obvertend.
Step 2. Conversion: Get the converse of the
resulting obverse, which serves as your
convertend.
Step 3. Obversion: Get the obverse of the resulting
converse, which serves as your obvertend.
The resulting proposition in step 3 is the
contrapositive.
Illustration:

Contraponend: (A)- All students are learners.

True
Obverse: (E)- No students are non-learners.
Converse:(E)-No non-learners are students.
Obverse: (A)-All non-learners are non-students.
True (contrapositive)
Extent of Applicability:
Simple Contraposition
A Propositions (A to A)
Contraponend: (A)-All men are mortal beings. True
Contrapositive: (A)-All immortal beings are non-men.
True
Succession order:
Obverse: (E)- No men are immortal beings.
Converse: (E)- No immortal beings are men.
Obverse: (A)- All immortal beings are non-men. True
(contrapositive)
O Propositions (O to O)
Contraponend: (O)-Some birds are not flying animals
True
Contrapositive: (O)-Some non-flying animals are not
non-birds. True
Succession order:
Obverse: (I)- Some birds are non-flying animals.
Converse: (I)- Some non-flying animals are birds.
Obverse: (O)- Some non-flying animals are not non-
birds. True (contrapositive)
Partial Contraposition
E Propositions (E to O)
Contraponend: (E)-No angels are mortal beings. True
Contrapositive: (A)-Some immortal beings are not
non-angels. True
Succession order:
Obverse: (A)- All angels are immortal beings.
Converse: (I)- Some immortal beings are angels.
Obverse: (O)- Some immortal beings are not non-
angels. True (contrapositive)