GENERAL RULES OF MEDIATE

INFERENCE
1.Three propositions– two premises and a conclusion
2. there are three distinct terms, (major term, middle term,
minor term)
•one of which ( the middle term) occurs in both premises—
--the conclusion may be universal only if the minor term is
distributed in its premise,
--And negative only if the major term is distributed in its
premise.
1st proposition All men are mortal major premise
middle term= m major term= p

2nd ,, All students are men minor premise

minor term= S middle term = M

3rd ,, All students

are mortal =
major term= p
conclusion
minor term
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3. Middle term must be distribute once at least.
4. No term may be distributed in the conclusion, if it is not distributed in
the premise.( By distribution of a term means the denotation
of subject and predicate of a proposition.)
5.The conclusion may universal only if the minor term is
distributed in its premise, And
Negative only if the minor term is distributed in its premise.
6. If both the premises are affirmative the conclusion can only be
affirmative.
7. If one premise is negative the conclusion can only be
negative.
These general rules of mediate inference or syllogism needs:
a. Real middle term.
b. Mediating link
c. Law of contradiction

[According to law of contradiction the same predicate cannot be both

affirmed or denied of the subject. S cannot both be P and not be P]
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 Deduction and Syllogism
chapt. 10

1.Deduction or deductive inference is defined as inference from a

general proposition and
2. Contrasted with induction, which is inference from particular.

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• It means putting two and two together, and that is just what is done in
all mediate inference.

• a. Syllogism is described as mediate inference & as deductive

inference , and also as confined to propositions which express the
relation of attribute to substance.

• The term syllogism has the advantage of greater brevity than the term
mediate inference.
• For example: the argument-
•
• 1. X=y,
• y=z,
• :. X=z is mediate, but not deductive.

• 2. All raddi of the same circle are raddi AB, AC, AD of circle are equal,
is deductive but not mediate.

• Lastly the argument: All men are mortal

• Rahim is a man
• ;. Rahim is mortal . ---- is both deductive and
mediate.
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 Varieties of mediate inference or syllogism.
[Figure and Mood of syllogism:]
• 1st.- All men are mortal _______ * major
premise premise
middle term =M Major term=P

• 2nd– All students are Men ______________ * minor

premise premise
minor term= S middle term = M

• 3rd- All students are mortal. _______ * conclusion

Minor term = S Major term=P
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 possibilities with regard to the argument of the terms in a syllogism :

Major Premise: M-P, P - M, M- P P-M

Minor Premise: S- M, S- M , M–S M- S

:. SP :. SP :. SP :. SP

The conclusion in each case is assumed to be S - P.

These differences in the arrangements of the terms of a syllogism are 5
called differences of Figure. i.e 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th figure.
Each figure
Figure is a number
may have kind of scheme
of different of syllogism:
moods
for example , the syllogistic types of :

M aP MeP
SaM Sa M
:. S a P :. S e P are different moods of first figure.

The determination of valid moods:

As regards quality and quantity there are 4 propositions-
A. I. E. O.

There are sixteen conceivable combinations of premises. Such as :-

A A , A I, A E , A O,
IA, I I , I E , I O,
E A , E I , E E , E O,
OA OI, OE, OO.
[Of these sixteen combinations, eight cannot justify
any conclusion.
They are EE, EO, OE, OO= no conclusion may be inferred from two
irreducibly negative premises--- or in other words, one
premise at least must be affirmative.
I I , I O, O I, no conclusion can be drawn.
I E no conclusion can be drawn.
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Only eight of the conceivable combinations of premises are
likely to justify a conclusion in some Figure.
• They are :AA, AI, AE, AO, IA, EA, EI, OA.

• Valid mode of first figure: in the valid mode of First Figure

• Middle term must stay , as a subject in the Major Premise, and
as a predicate in minor premise.

• M.------------
• ------------M.
• AA
• A= All M is P.= All men are mortal.
• A.= All S is M = All farmer are men.
• :.A= All S is P = All farmer are mortal.
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 Valid moods- first figure. AAA, AII,
EAE, EIO

• AII
• A= All M is P All men are mortal.
• m p
I= some s is M. Some animal are men.
s m
:.I= some s is P. some animal are mortal.
s p
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 Valid moods of second figure: middle term must stay
as a predicate in both major premise and minor premise

……..m p–m
………… m s– m
: . S– p
Valid moods: AEE, AOO
EAE, EIO
AEE
A pro: All p is m All cows are four- footed
p m
E pro : No s is m……………….No birds are four-footed
s m
:.E pro. No s is p :. No birds are cow
s p

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AOO
A pro: All p is m All soldiers are cruel
p m
O pro: Some s is not m ………..Some men are not cruel
s m
:. O pro: Some s is not p :. Some men are not soldier
s p
Valid mood of third figure

Figure 3rd Middle should be as subject in both major and minor premises
M…………
M…………
M………..P Valid mood: AAI, AII, IAI, EAO, EIO, OAO
M ………S
:. S…… O

AAI AII
A AII m is p All men are mortal

A=
All M is P All Whales are mammals m p
m p I. some m is s Some men are teacher
A= All M is S All Whales are aquatic animals animal m s
m s I. :. Some s is p :. Some teacher are mortal
I=:. S is p :. Some aquatic animals are mammals s p
s p

IAI OAO
I = Some m is p Some men are cruel o= Some m are not P Some mangoe are not
sour 10
m p m p
Valid mood of 4th figure p - m p-------- m
m- s m---------s
:.s-p :. S---------p
valid mood : AAI, AEE, IAI, EAO, EIO
AAI = AEE
A= All p is m . All philosopher are men A= All p is m All men are biped animal
p m p m

A= All m is s . All men are mortal E= No m is s No biped are horses

m s m s

:.I= Some mortal beings are animal :.E = No s is p :. No horses are men
s p s p
IAI EAO
I = Some p is m Some men are student E= No p is m No cows are men
p m p m

A = All m is s All student are mortal animal A = All m is s All men are animal
m s m s

I = Some s is p :.Some mortal animal are men. O =Some s is not p :. Some animal are not cow.
s p s p
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