CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM

1. Meaning

 Mediate inference which consists of three related categorical propositions

 The two propositions are called the premises of the syllogism: the first is the major premise and
the second is the minor premise.
 The product or the consequent in the syllogism is called the conclusion.

2. Terms in the Categorical Syllogism

A categorical syllogism is composed of three terms. These terms are the elements of
categorical syllogism. The three terms have given names depending on their function in the
syllogism.

 Major term – it is a term found in the major premise and serves as the predicate of the
conclusion
 Minor term – it is a term found in minor premise and serves as the subject of the conclusion
 Middle term – it is a term found in both premises which serves as the common or middle
term in both terms: major term and minor term

3. Standard Form Categorical Syllogism

It refers to the structure and arrangement of the propositions in the syllogism. A standard
form categorical syllogism is arranged in this order:

Major premise: All Filipinos are nationalistic;

Minor premise: Some teachers are Filipinos;

Conclusion: Thus, some teachers are nationalistic.

Major term: nationalistic

Minor term: teachers

Middle term: Filipinos

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Conclusion indicators: therefore, so, ergo (Latin), thus, hence, consequently, it shows that, it
follows that

Premise indicators: since, because, for, as, inasmuch, but, however, follows from, as shown by,
as indicated by

4. Guidelines in the Standard Form Categorical Syllogism

1. Read and understand the meaning of the propositions used.

2. Determine the conclusion or the premises of the given syllogism by identifying the indicators
used in the propositions.

a. If the premises (major and minor) are given by having their indicators, it follows that the
remaining is the conclusion.
b. If the conclusion is the one given by having its indicator, the others are the premises.

3. Determine which are the major premise and the minor premise.

a. If one of the premises contains the predicate of the conclusion, it is the major premise.
b. If one of the premises contains the subject of the conclusion, it is the minor premise.

4. Arrange them in this order:

1. Major premise
2. Minor premise
3. Conclusion

5. If the propositions are not in the logical form or standard form, reduce or translate each of them
into standard form.

Example: Some students have aspirations in life; thus, some dreamers have aspirations in
life; all students are dreamers.

Standard form:

Major premise: Some students are people who have aspirations in life;
Minor premise: All students are dreamers.

Conclusion: Thus, some dreamers are people who have aspirations in life.

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 HYPOTHETICAL SYLLOGISM

1. Meaning

 A product of reasoning where one of the conditions or alternatives in the major premise
(expressed in the hypothetical proposition) is affirmed or denied in the conclusion (expressed
in the categorical proposition) of which is affirmed or denied in the minor premise (expressed
in the categorical proposition).
 Composed of major premise, minor premise and conclusion

2. Kinds of Hypothetical Syllogism

A. Conditional Hypothetical Syllogism

 Consists of a conditional proposition as a major premise and categorical propositions in the

minor premise and conclusion.

Rules in the Conditional Hypothetical Syllogism

1. If you affirm the antecedent in the minor, affirm the consequent in the conclusion.
2. If you deny the consequent in the minor, deny the antecedent in the conclusion.
3. If you affirm the consequent in the minor, nothing follows.
4. If you deny the antecedent in the minor, nothing follows.

Examples:

If Natalie is a teacher, then he is a professional;

But Natalie is a teacher;
Therefore, Natalie is a professional.

If an object is a triangle, then it has three sides;

But it has no three sides;
Then, it is not a triangle.

If Colin is a basketball player, then he is an athlete.

But he is an athlete.
Thus, he is a basketball player. (invalid = nothing follows)

If a person is a professor, then he is a teacher.

But he is not a professor.
Hence, he is not a teacher. (invalid = nothing follows)
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B. Disjunctive Hypothetical Syllogism

 Consists of a disjunctive proposition in the major premise and categorical propositions in the
minor premise and the conclusion.

Rules in the Complete Disjunctive Hypothetical Syllogism

1. If you affirm one alternative, deny the other.

2. If you deny one alternative, affirm the other.

Examples:

An act is either moral or immoral;

But it is moral;
Therefore, it is not immoral.

An act is either moral or immoral;

But it is not moral;
Therefore, it is immoral.

Rules in the Incomplete Disjunctive Hypothetical Syllogism

1. If you affirm one alternative, deny the other.

2. If you deny one alternative, nothing follows.

Examples:

A person is either a lawyer or an architect;

But he is a lawyer;
Then, he is not an architect.

A person is either a singer or a dancer;

But he is not a dancer;
Then, he is not a singer. (invalid = nothing follows)

C. Conjunctive Hypothetical Syllogism

 Consists of a conjunctive proposition in the major premise and categorical propositions in the
minor premise and the conclusion.

Rules in the Conjunctive Hypothetical Syllogism

1. If you affirm one alternative, deny the other.

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2. If you deny one alternative, nothing follows.

Examples:

A person cannot be hungry and full at the same time;

But he is hungry;
Thereof, he is not full.

A person cannot be hungry and full at the same time;

But he is not full;
Therefore, he is hungry. (invalid)