The Syllogism:

is a logical argument in which one proposition, the conclusion is drawn

from two propositions called the premises. There are other types of
syllogism, but we shall concern ourselves with categorical syllogism
and hypothetical syllogism.

A categorical syllogism is an argument in which, from two judgments

which contain a common idea and at least one of which is universal ( a
medium of comparison), a third judgment, distinct from either of the
former, follows with logical necessity.
A hypothetical syllogism is a type of deductive argument which consists of the
first premise (analogically called major premise), the second premise
(analogically the minor premise), and the conclusion. The major premise is a
hypothetical or sequential proposition, while the minor premise and the
conclusion are categorical propositions. A hypothetical syllogism proceeds by
stating two alternatives in the major premise, one of which is affirmed or
denied by the minor premise, while the other is affirmed or denied in the
conclusion.

There are three types of a hypothetical syllogism, namely, the conditional, the
disjunctive, and the conjunctive.
The Categorical Syllogism
A categorical syllogism is an argument in which, from two judgments which contain a common idea
and at least one of which is universal ( a medium of comparison), a third judgment, distinct from either of
the former, follows with logical necessity.

The Elements of Categorical Syllogism

 Major premise – the proposition which contains the major term (P) and the middle term (M)
 Minor premise – the proposition which contains the minor term (S) and middle term (M)
 The conclusion – the consequent truth implied in the premise; it contains the major term (P)
and the minor term (S)
 Minor term (S) – is always the subject of the conclusion and the subject or predicate if the
minor premise.
 Major term (P) – is always the predicate of the conclusion and the subject or predicate of the
major premise.
 Middle term (M) – the medium with which the minor and major terms are compared; occurs
in each of the premises either as the subject or the predicate.
SYLLOGISTIC FIGURES:

Figure I Figure II
MU P+ : All M are P. PM : All P are M.
SU M+ : All S are M SM : All S are M.
SU P+ : Ergo, all S are P SP : Ergo, all S are P.

Figure III Figure IV

MP : All M are P. PM : All P are M.
MS : All M are S. MS : All M are S.
SP : Ergo, all S are P. SP : Ergo, all S are P.
Rules for Valid Categorical Syllogism
 RULE # 1 [The trinity Term]: There must be three and only three terms in a categorical syllogism, each of
which is used in the same sense or meaning in the entire argument.
 RULE # 2 [The “OP” Middle Term]: The middle term must not appear in the conclusion.
 RULE # 3 [The Bloated Major Term]: The major term may not be universal in the conclusion if it is only
particular in the premise.
 RULE # 4 [The Bloated Minor Term]: The minor term may not be universal in the conclusion if it is only
particular in the premise.
 RULE # 5 [Paralytic Middle Term]: The middle term must be distributed or universal at least once in the
premises.
 RULE # 6 [Judas Kiss Conclusion]: If both premises are affirmative, the conclusion must also be affirmative.
 RULE # 7 [Double Negative]: No valid conclusion can be validly drawn from two negative premises; at least
either premise must be affirmative.
 RULE # 8 [Negative Premise-Negative Conclusion]: If one premise is negative, the conclusion must be
negative.
 RULE # 9 [Particular Premise-Particular Conclusion]: If one premise particular, the conclusion must be
particular.
 RULE # 10 [Double Particular]: No conclusion can be validly drawn from two particular premises.
EXPLANATION OF EACH RULE:
RULE # 1 [The Trinity Term]:

 Examples:
All bishops are spiritual leaders.
Some chessmen are bishops.
Ergo, some chessmen are spiritual leaders.
 
All philosophers are thinkers.
All wise men are thinkers.
Ergo, Jose Rizal is a philosopher (?)

FALLACY OF EQUIVOCATION due to FOUR-TERM CONSTRUCTION or LOGICAL QUADROPED.

RULE # 2 [The “OP” Middle Term]:
 Example:
All students are studious.
Juan is a student.
Ergo, Juan is a student and studious.

RULE # 3 [The Bloated Major Term]:

 Example:
All stallions are horses. M Pp
No buffalos are stallion S M
Ergor, No buffalos are horses. S Pu
RULE # 4 [The Bloated Minor Term]:
 Example:
No communist are capitalists MP
All communist are radicals. M Sp
Ergo, no radicals are capitalist. Su P

RULE # 5 [Paralytic Middle Term]:

 Example:
Some poets are mothers. P Mp
Some teachers mothers. S Mp
Ergo, some teachers are poets. SP
Another for Rule #5:
Some Filipinos are athletes. P Mp
Some Eskimos are athletes. S Mp
Ergo, some Eskimos are Filipinos. SP

RULE # 6 [Judas Kiss Conclusion]:

 Example:
All apostles are lovers of Jesus.
All apostles are Jews.
Ergo, no Jews are lovers of Jesus.
RULE # 7 [Double Negative]:

Dr. Cleope is not happy.

Dr. Villordon is not Dr. Cleope.
Ergo, Dr. Villordon is happy.

RULE # 8 [Negative Premise-Negative Conclusion]:

All Catholic priest are humans.

No women are Catholic priest.
Ergo, all women are humans.
RULE # 9 [Particular Premise-Particular Conclusion]:
All biologist are scientist. M P
Some writers are biologist. SP M
Ergo, all writers are scientist. SU P

RULE # 10 [Double Particular]:

Not all students are scholars
Some professionals are student
Ergo, some professionals are scholars.
 
Some Philosopher are not Greeks.
Some Greeks are not thinkers.
Ergo, some thinkers are not philosophers.