1

SUBJECT : LOGIC

CLASS: FORM FOUR ARTS.

TOPIC: IMMEDIATE INFERENCE.

SUB-TOPIC: EDUCTION FORM OF IMMEDIATE INFERENCE.

LESSON: FORMS OF EDUCTION

LEARNING OUTCOMES:-

1. Demonstrate your understanding of the definition of Eduction, as an immediate inference by correctly

explaining the definition in your own words.
2. Distinguish between the four different types of Eduction; Conversion, Obversion, contrapositive and
Inversion.

3. Demonstrate your understanding of conversion, obversion, contraposition, and inversion by correctly

converting, obverting, contraposing and inverting sample statements.

Pre requisites: (What students should know before this lesson) Definition of Inference, Name the different
types and define them, State the various modes of immediate inference, State the corresponding rules of
opposition relations and their truth values.

EDUCTION

- It is a form of immediate inference which involves the act of deriving a new proposition from the given which
may differ in terms of Subject, or Predicate or both subject and predicate.

Or

It is Formulation of a new proposition by the interchange of the subject and the predicate of an original
proposition and/or by the use or removal of negatives.

Four kinds (modes) of Eduction exist namely:

1. Conversion
2. Obversion.
3. Contraposition.
4. Inversion.

1. CONVERSION

It refers to the formulation of a new proposition by interchanging the subject and the predicate terms of an
original proposition, while maintaining the quality of the original proposition.

The original proposition is called the convertend.

 2

The formulated proposition is the Converse.

The process itself is called Conversion.

For example: Convertend: No humble persons are cheats.

Converse: No cheats are humble persons.

TYPES OF CONVERSION:- Simple conversion and conversion by limitation (Per accidens).

(a) Simple Conversion:-

The conversion is simple if the quantity of the converse is the same as the quantity of the convertend (E – E)
( I - I)

NB. Only universal Negative (E) and particular affirmative (I) propositions can be converted through simple
conversion.

Example 1. Give the converse of “No students are lazy persons”.

Solution: Convertend: No students are lazy perons.

Converse: No lazy persons are students.

Example 2. Convert the proposition “Some preachers are pastors”.

Solution: Convertend: Some preachers are pastors.

Converse: Some Pastors are preachers.

NB. Simple conversion is impossible with universal affirmative (A) proposition, the quantity of the predicate
term which becomes the subject term in the converse cannot be retained.

-In particular negative (O) proposition the subject term of the convertend being made the predicate term of a
negative proposition would changed from particular to universal.

Thus the O-Proposition is inconvertible

( b) Conversion by limitation:

The conversion is by limitation if the quantity of the proposition is reduced from universal to particular. It
applies to universal affirmative ( A) proposition.

- The universal affirmative (A) proposition is changed to particular affirmative(I).

Example: Give the converse of “All computers are gadgets”.
Solution: Convertend: All computers are gadgets.

Converse: Some gadgets are computers.

 3

Rules of Conversion.

1. No undistributed term in the convertend is distributed in the converse.

2. Maintain the quantity of the given proposition.
3. Interchange the subject and the predicate.

Exercise:

(a) Give the converse of the following (if they have).

i) Some animals are not pets.
ii) No students are lazy persons.
iii) Some liars are thieves.
iv) All successful people are humble person.
v) Some animals are not carnivores.
(b) Criticize the following examples. First note whether the propositions are A, E I or O.
i) All men are rational beings and all rational beings are men.
ii) Some animals are not dogs and some dogs are not animals.
iii) No bats are birds and no birds are bats.
iv) Some students are boys and some boys are students.
v) All logicians are wise persons and some wise persons are logicians.

2. OBVERSION
Obversion refers to the formulation of a new proposition by retaining the subject and quantity of the
original proposition, changing its quality, and using as predicate the contradictory of the original.
i.e (A-proposition to E-proposition). (E-proposition to A- proposition)
( I- position to O-proposition ) ( O-proposition to I-proposition )

Obversion is possible with the A, E, I, O propositions

The original proposition is called obvertend.

The new proposition is called the obverse.
The process itself is Conversion.

Examples:

A to E: Obvertend; All cats are animals. Obverse; No cats are non-animals.

E to A: Obvertend; No cats are dogs. Obverse; All cats are non-dogs.

Rules of obversion
1. Retain the subject and quantity of the obvertend.
2. Change the quality. If the obvertend is affirmative, the obverse must be negative; and if the
obvertend is negative the obverse must be affirmative.
3. As predicate, use the contradictory predicate (term compliment) of the original proposition.
 4

Exercise:

(a) Convert the following propositions:

i) All students are hardworking persons.
ii) Some Christians are teachers.
iii) No criminals are respectful persons.
iv) Some lawyers are not unjust person.

(b) Criticise the following examples, State whether the inference is valid or invalid.
i) Some judges are unjust persons : Therefore Some judges are not just.
ii) All thieves are criminals: therefore, No thieves are non-criminals.
iii) Some students are logical: therefore, Some students illogical.