Syllogisms

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 It is the third and the last
segment of logical structure
(after Terms and Propositions)

The term syllogism derives from

the Latin Syllogismus or
About
syllogismos in Greek meaning: to
Syllogism
join together in thought two
premises or propositions such
that we draw from them a third
proposition called a conclusion.
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 Syllogisms can be defined as the
act of thought by which, from
two given propositions, we
proceed to a third proposition,
the truth of which necessarily
follows from the truth of these
Contd..
given propositions.

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 Examples:
All Men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Therefore, Socrates is mortal

Classical All Presidents are Citizens

Syllogism Buhari is a president
Therefore, Buhari is a citizen

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 The categorical standard form
syllogism is made up of two
premises and a conclusion.

There are three (and ONLY three)

About the terms in a syllogism: the major
premises term, the minor term and the
and terms middle term.
of Syllogism
The major term is the term which
appears as the predicate of the
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conclusion.
 The minor term is the term which
appears as the subject of the
conclusion.

The middle term is the term which

appears in both premises but does
NOT appear in the conclusion.
Contd… It must have the same meaning
and be used in the same sense in
both premises as it is the link
between the two.

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 The major premise is the one in
which the major term appears.

The minor premise is the one in

which the minor term appears.
The
Premises Attention!: Note that each of the
three terms appears twice in the
syllogism.

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 M = middle term
P = major term
S = minor term

S = subject of the conclusion

Symbolic
designation P = predicate of the conclusion
of the
terms
M-P
S-M
S–P
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 1. Only three terms may
appear in the syllogism.

2. Neither the major nor the

minor term may be a universal in
Eight (8)
the conclusion if it was only a
Rules of
particular term in the premises.
Categorical
Syllogism
3. The middle term does not
occur in the conclusion.

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 4. The middle term must be
distributed at least once in the
premises.
5. If both premises are
affirmative, the conclusion must
be affirmative.
Contd… 6. Both premises must not be
negative; one at least must be in
the affirmative (nothing can be
inferred from two negative
premises.)
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 7. If one of the premises is
negative, the conclusion must be
negative. If one is particular, the
conclusion must be particular.

8. No conclusion can be drawn

Contd… from two particular premises; at
least one of the premises must
be universal.
*Note: The predicates of affirmative
premises are always particular terms
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(i.e undistributed)
 The figure refers to the position
of the middle term in the
syllogism.

There are four syllogistic figures

according to the position of the
Figures of
middle term.
Syllogism

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 In the First figure, the middle
term is the subject of the major
premise and predicate of minor
premise
Example:
All Mothers are caring
Figure 1 Clara is a mother
Therefore, Clare is caring
Symbols: M - P
S-M
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S–P
 In the Second figure, the middle
term is the predicate of both
premises.
Symbol:
P-M
S-M
Figure 2 S- P
No superstitious persons are
Philosophers
Some men are Philosophers
Therefore, Some men are not
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superstitious
 In the third figure, the middle term
is the subject of both premises
Examples:
All gadgets are fascinating
Some gadgets are practical
Therefore, Some practical things are
fascinating
Figure 3
Symbols:
M-P
M-S
S- P
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 In the fourth figure, the middle
term is the predicate of the major
premise, and subject of the minor
premise.
All gossipers are dangerous people
All dangerous people are undesirable
Some undesirables are gossipers

Figure 4
Symbols:
P-M
M-S
S- P
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