Variations of

Syllogisms

Date
Enthymeme

-an enthymeme is an abridged form of syllogism in which a

premise or a conclusion is missing.
-there are three types of enthymeme: first order, second order,
and third order.
 First order: The major premise is omitted
 Jesse is not an honor student because she has a grade of NC.
 Complete:
– Whoever has a grade of NC is not an honor student. Mu - Pu
– Jesse has a grade of NC. Su + Mp
– Hence, she is not an honor student. Su - Pu

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Enthymeme

-Second order: The minor premise is omitted.

 No one who has incomplete requirements will be entertained. That is why he
will not be entertained.
 Complete:
– No one who has incomplete requirements will be entertained
Mu - Pu
– He has incomplete requirements. Su + Mp
– Hence, he will not be entertained. Su - Pu

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Enthymeme

-Third order: The conclusion is omitted.

 Contraceptive devices are abortifacients; and no conservative catholic uses
abortifacients.
 Complete:
– Contraceptive devices are abortifacients. Pp + Mp
– No conservative catholic uses abortifacients. Su - Mu
– So, no conservative catholic are contraceptive devices. Su - Pu

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Epichireme

-an epichireme is a syllogism in which a proof or reason is

attached to one or two of the premises.
-there are types of epichireme: simple and complex
 Simple epichireme—an epichireme which has a proof attached to one of
its premises.
 All economists are social scientists because they use scientific methods.
 Some faculty members of FS are economists.
 Thus, some faculty members of FS are social scientists

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Epichireme

-Complex epichireme: a syllogism which has proofs attached to

its two premises
 Man’s soul is spiritual because he can think.
 But a spiritual soul exists forever because a spiritual being cannot be dissolved.
 Ergo, man’s soul exists forever.
 Some endorsers of RH Bill are elected to a public office (they win the May 2010
election).
 Every endorser of RH Bill is expected to lose (the Catholic strongly opposes
their candidacy).
 Thus, some of those who are expected to lose are elected to public office.

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Epichireme

-
 Researchers on Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) must observe the
precautionary principle (unknown aspects may cause unnecessary harm to the
society).
 Many Researchers on SCNT are pioneers in biomedical research.
 Hence, some pioneers must observe the precautionary principle.

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Sorites

-an abbreviated form of polysyllogism which is composed of

two or more premises linked through a specific arrangement of
the predicates of subjects
-there are two types of Sorites: Aristotelian and Goclenian
 AristotelianSorites—a sorites whose premises in such a way that the
predicate of the preceding premises is used as the subject of the
following premise.
 S is A
 A is B
 B is C
 C is P
 Thus, S is P

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Sorites

 Goclenian Sorites—a sorites whose premises is arranged in such a way that

the subject of the preceding premise is the predicate of the following
premise.
 A is P
 B is A
 C is B
 S is C
 Thus, S is P
 To determine the validity of sorites, two things must be borne in mind:
1. No premise may be negative except the premise containing the predicate of the
conclusion.
2. No premise may be particular except the premise containing the subject of the
conclusion.
 

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Sorites

 To determine the validity of sorites, two things must be borne in mind:
1. No premise may be negative except the premise containing the predicate of
the conclusion.
2. No premise may be particular except the premise containing the subject of
the conclusion.

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Sorites

Whoever follows the right path heeds the Way;

whoever heeds the Way accepts the Yin and Yang;
whoever accepts the Yin and Yang acknowledges weakness as strength;
whoever acknowledges weakness as strength is not perturbed by the events of
this world;
whoever is not perturbed by the events of this world is a happy man.
Hence, whoever follows the right path is a happy man.

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11
Sorites

If the enemies of the state will seize power, then the society will be in chaos.
If the society will plunge into uncertain times, then enemies of the state will seize
power.
If corruption will not be effectively prevented, then the society will plunge into
uncertain times.
If a good man’s administration will be seen in a bad light, then corruption will not be
effectively prevented.
If opportunists will take advantage of him, then a good man’s administration will be
seen in a bad light.
If a good man gains power, then opportunists will take advantage of him.
Hence, if a good man gains power, then the society will be in chaos.

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Dilemma

-The dilemma is an argument which presents alternatives

forcing one to take either of them, but whichever he chooses
would be to his disadvantage
-there are four types of dilemma:
 The simple constructive dilemma
 The complex constructive dilemma
 The simple destructive dilemma
 The complex destructive dilemma

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13
Constructive Dilemma

-The simple constructive dilemma:

If A, then C
If B, then C
But either A or B
Ergo, C
 If the El Nino phenomenon is being made as an excuse for importing
rice, then the local agriculture industry will suffer. If the El Nino
phenomenon is really happening across the country, then the local
agriculture industry will suffer. Either the El Nino is being made as an
excuse for importing rice or it is really happening across the country.
Thus, the local agriculture industry will suffer.

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14
Constructive Dilemma

The Complex constructive dilemma:

If A, then C
If B, then D
But either A or B
Ergo, either C or D
 If the RH Bill will not be enacted, then the poor will ultimately suffer (due
to unmanaged population). If it will be enacted, then the poor will
ultimately suffer (since the church will condemn them). The RH Bill will be
either enacted or not enacted. Hence, the poor will ultimately suffer.

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Destructive Dilemma

The simple destructive dilemma:

If A, then C and D
But either not C or not D
Ergo, not A
 If we are the only living beings in the universe, then God created an
“awful waste of space” and He is an example of profligacy. God neither
created an “awful waste of space” nor is he an example of profligacy.
Hence, we are not the only living beings in the universe.

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Destructive Dilemma

The complex destructive dilemma:

If A, then C
If B, then D
But either not C or not D
Ergo, either not A or not B
 If a Chief Justice will not be appointed, there will be a vacuum of
leadership in the Judiciary. If a new senate president will not be elected,
there will be a vacuum of leadership in the Senate. There will not be a
vacuum of leadership either in the Judiciary or in the Senate. Therefore,
either a Chief Justice will be appointed or a new senate president will be
elected.

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Correctness of Dilemma

To determine the correctness of the dilemma, one must

remember two things:
(a)the alternatives or the disjunction must be exhaustive; and
(b)the antecedent and the consequent must have necessary
connection.
If (a) is not observed, the arguer can “escape between the
horns” and
if (b) is not observed, the arguer can “take the dilemma by the
horns”.

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Validity of Dilemmas

1. If Jesus lets Magdalene go, then he will violate the Jewish

laws (for it is unlawful to commit adultery). If he lets Magdalene
be stoned to death, then he does not practice what he preaches
(for he will be accused of being without compassion and mercy).
Jesus will let her either go or be stoned to death. Hence, either
he violates the Jewish laws or he does not practice what he
preaches.

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Validity of Dilemmas

If I am unjust, then men will love me (for I will not send them to
prison); if I am just, then the gods will love me (for I have
observed their laws). Either I am just or I am unjust. Thus, men
or the gods will love me.

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