Logic- Module VII
Categorical vs. Hypothetical
Proposition/Syllogism
Categorical Proposition
• There is a direct assertion between the
subject and the predicate
Ex.: John is intelligent.
Angelie is beautiful.
Peter is handsome.
Categorical Syllogism
• It consists of three premises and three important terms.
• Major premise – a proposition that pronounces the
general law and it contains the major term and the
middle term.
• Minor premise – the proposition pronouncing the
particular instance and it contains the minor term and
the middle term.
• Conclusion – it is the proposition containing the result of
reasoning. It contains the major and the minor term. This
is the statement being proved.
Ex. of Categorical syllogism
• All medical doctors are committed to the
preservation of human life,
But, all surgeons are medical doctors,
Therefore, all surgeons are committed to the
preservation of human life.
Hypothetical Proposition
• It assert the dependence of judgment over
another judgment.
Ex. If you will study hard, you will surely pass the
subject.
If it rains, the ground gets wet.
Kinds of Hypothetical Propositions
1. Conditional proposition – “If” proposition. If
it contains the word “If” then it is a
conditional proposition.
2. Disjunctive proposition – “Either or
proposition. If it contains the words “Either
or” then it is a disjunctive proposition
3. Conjunctive proposition - states that two or
more certain predicates cannot be of one
subject.
Hypothetical syllogism
• Conditional syllogism - if the major premise is
conditional proposition
• Disjunctive syllogism – if the major premise is
disjunctive proposition
• Conjunctive syllogism – if the major premise is
conjunctive proposition
Rule on Conditional Syllogism
1. If the minor premise posit the antecedent
the conclusion will posit the consequence.
This is the constructive mood.
2. If the minor premise sublates the
consequent, the conclusion will sublate the
antecedent. This is the destructive method.
Ex. of conditional syllogism
1. If It rains, the ground gets wet.
It rains
Therefore, the ground gets wet. (constructive mood)
2. If it rains, the ground gets wet.
But the ground did not get wet,
Therefore, it did not rain. (destructive mood)
red color is the antecedent
blue color is the consequent
Rule on disjunctive syllogism
• 1. If one member of the disjunction is posited
in the minor premise, the other is sublated in
the consequence, and vice versa, that is, if one
member is sublated , the other is posited.
• Ex:
Peter is either a freeman or a prisoner.
But, Peter is a freeman
Therefore, he is not a prisoner.
Other forms will be:
Minor Premise Conclusion
But, Peter is a prisoner Therefore, he is not a freeman
But, Peter is not a prisoner Therefore, he is a freeman
But, Peter is not a freeman Therefore, he is a prisoner
Rule on conjunctive syllogism
• If the minor premise posit one member of the
conjunction, the conclusion will sublate the
other, but not vice versa. If the minor premise
sublates one member of the conjunction, then
no valid conclusion will follow.
Ex. You cannot be both in Tacloban and Palo at
the same time.
But, you are in Palo.
Therefore, you are not in Tacloban
• Not:
But he is not in Palo
Therefore he is in Tacloban (The
conclusion is not valid because he might be in
Tanauan or in other place.
