Burauen Community College

Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte

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Module 5

Lesson Summary
The lesson on "Categorical Syllogism" provides students with a structured approach to
understanding and evaluating deductive arguments. It covers the fundamental components of a
categorical syllogism, including propositional parts, syllogistic terms, and form, allowing students to
break down arguments effectively. The lesson also emphasizes determining validity using traditional
syllogistic rules and analyzing figure and mood to classify different argument structures. Additionally,
students develop the skill of transforming imperfect figures into perfect ones, refining their logical
reasoning abilities. By mastering categorical syllogisms, students enhance their critical thinking,
enabling them to construct sound arguments, assess reasoning patterns, and apply logical principles
in academic, professional, and everyday contexts.

Categorical Syllogism

Understanding Categorical Syllogism: Forms and Parts

A categorical syllogism is considered the most important elementary type of reasoning, making it
essential to recognize and understand its form and parts.

Lesson 1: Forms and Parts

A categorical syllogism may assume various forms. The standard form is the ideal structure, while
other variations exist. Understanding the standard form helps in distinguishing other types.
The standard form follows this order:
1. Major Premise – General statement containing the predicate of the conclusion.
2. Minor Premise – Specific statement containing the subject of the conclusion.
3. Conclusion – Logical inference drawn from the premises.

Example (Standard Form):

 Major Premise: All flowers are plants.
 Minor Premise: Roses are flowers.
 Conclusion: Therefore, roses are plants.
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Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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Other forms of categorical syllogism may rearrange these components, such as placing the minor
premise first, stating the conclusion at the beginning, or inserting the conclusion between the
premises.

Identifying Premises and Conclusion

Each categorical syllogism consists of three propositional parts:
 Major Premise – General statement containing the predicate of the conclusion.
 Minor Premise – Specific statement containing the subject of the conclusion.
 Conclusion – The final statement derived from the premises.

Parts of a Categorical Syllogism

A categorical syllogism consists of three terms:
1. Major Term (P) – The predicate of the conclusion, found in the major premise.
2. Minor Term (S) – The subject of the conclusion, found in the minor premise.
3. Middle Term (M) – Appears in both premises but not in the conclusion; serves as the logical
bridge between terms.
Example (With Symbolic Representation):
 Major Premise: All flowers (M) are beautiful (P).
 Minor Premise: But orchids (S) are flowers (M).
 Conclusion: Therefore, orchids (S) are beautiful (P).

Analyzing a Syllogism
To determine the validity and structure of a categorical syllogism, follow these steps:
1. Identify the conclusion first.
2. Determine the major and minor terms in the conclusion.
3. Find the middle term in the premises.
4. Identify the major premise based on the major term.
5. Identify the minor premise based on the minor term.
6. Classify each proposition using symbols A, E, I, and O (affirmative/negative,
universal/particular).
7. Identify whether the syllogism follows a standard form or not.
The form and structure of the syllogism can be analyzed using symbolic representation:
 Burauen Community College
Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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M−a−PS−a−MS−a−PM - a - P S - a - M S - a - P
 "a" represents a universal affirmative proposition.
 Other proposition types include E (universal negative), I (particular affirmative), and O
(particular negative).
Summary: A clear understanding of categorical syllogisms enhances logical reasoning, allowing
individuals to construct and evaluate arguments systematically. Recognizing their forms and parts
helps develop critical thinking skills essential in debate, law, philosophy, and analytical decision-
making.

Lesson 2: Validity by Traditional Rules

For categorical syllogisms to be valid, they must satisfy the following traditional rules which are
grouped into four categories: rules on terms, on quality of propositions, on quantity of propositions,
and on making assertion. Violation of any rule will result to a certain fallacy or fallacies and will render
the syllogism invalid.

Rules on Terms
Rule 1: Every categorical syllogism must contain only three terms – major, minor, and middle – each
of which occurs twice but not in the same proposition.
Example:
 Dogs are animals.
 Oprah is a dog.
 Therefore, Oprah is an animal.
In this syllogism, the three terms are:
 Major term: "animal"
 Minor term: "Oprah"
 Middle term: "dog"
Fallacies: Violation of this rule yields three fallacies – the fallacy of excess terms, the fallacy of
equivocation, and the fallacy of amphiboly.
Illustration:
 Stars are heavenly bodies.
 Elizabeth Taylor is a star.
 Therefore, Ms. Taylor is a heavenly body.
In this example, the term "star" has two different meanings, leading to:
 Fallacy of equivocation: The term "star" is used with different meanings.
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Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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 Fallacy of amphiboly: The term "star" is used analogously, meaning partly the same and partly
different.
Rule 2: The major and minor terms cannot be universal in the conclusion unless they are universal in
the premise.
Fallacies: Violation of this rule results in the fallacies of illicit major and illicit minor.
Example (Illicit Major):
 Animals are organisms.

❌
 Plants are not animals.
 Therefore, plants are not organisms.
Example (Illicit Minor):
 Athletes are active people.

❌
 Athletes are men.
 Therefore, men are active people.
Rule 3: The middle term must be universal at least once.
Fallacy: Violation of this rule results in the fallacy of undistributed middle.
Example:
 All flowers are plants.

❌
 Some plants are vegetables.
 Hence, some vegetables are flowers.

Rules on the Quality of Propositions

Rule 4: A negative premise will not produce a conclusion.

Fallacy: Violation of this rule results in the fallacy of exclusive premises.
Example:
 No soldier is a coward.

❌
 No coward is nationalistic.
 Therefore, no nationalistic person is a soldier.
Rule 5: If one of the premises is negative, the conclusion must be negative.
Fallacy: Violation of this rule results in a fallacy of affirmative conclusion.
Example:
 Burauen Community College
Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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 All doves are birds.

❌
 Dogs are not doves.
 Therefore, some dogs are birds.
Rule 6: If both premises are affirmative, the conclusion must be affirmative.
Fallacy: Violation of this rule results in a fallacy of negative conclusion.
Example:
 All Christians are caring.

❌
 Some gamblers are Christians.
 Hence, some gamblers are not caring.

Rules on the Quantity of Propositions

Rule 7: At least one premise must be universal.
Fallacies: Violation of this rule leads to illicit major, undistributed middle, or negative premises.
Examples:
1. Some Chinese are communists.
Some atheists are Chinese.
Hence, some atheists are communists. ❌
2. Some wealthy men are not happy.
Many virtuous men are happy.
So, some wealthy men are not virtuous. ❌
Rule 8: If either premise is particular, the conclusion must be particular.
Fallacy: Violation of this rule results in an undistributed middle, illicit major, or illicit minor.
Examples:
 Some nationalists are aggressive.

❌
 All nationalists are patriots.
 Hence, all patriots are aggressive.
 The earth is a planet.

❌
 Saturn is a planet.
 Therefore, Saturn is the Earth.

Rule on Making Assertions

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Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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Rule 9: The subject-term cannot be asserted in the conclusion unless it has been asserted in the
minor premise.
Fallacy: Violation of this rule results in the existential fallacy.
Example:
 All Asians are family-oriented.

❌
 Andre is an Asian.
 Therefore, Venson is family-oriented.
Since "Venson" was not asserted in the premises, it cannot be asserted in the conclusion.

Lesson 3: Figures and Moods

Figure
The figure of the categorical syllogism is defined by the arrangement of terms in the premises. There
are four figures:
1. First Figure (sub-pre):
o Middle term is the subject of the major premise and the predicate of the minor premise.
o Example:
 Men are rational beings.
 Some kind creatures are men.
 Therefore, some kind creatures are rational beings.
2. Second Figure (pre-pre):
o Middle term is the predicate of both premises.
o Example:
 No men are immortal beings.
 Some creatures are immortal beings.
 Therefore, some creatures are not men.
3. Third Figure (sub-sub):
o Middle term is the subject of both premises.
o Example:
 Dogs are not cats.
 Burauen Community College
Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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 All dogs are loyal pets.

 Therefore, some loyal pets are not cats.
4. Fourth Figure (pre-sub):
o Middle term is the predicate of the major premise and the subject of the minor premise.
o Example:
 All poets are imaginative people.
 No imaginative people are robots.
 Therefore, no robots are poets.
Mood
The mood of a categorical syllogism is determined by the arrangement of the premises according to
quality and quantity (A, E, I, O).
Pair Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Major Premise A A A A E e E e I i i i O o o o
Minor Premise A E I O A e I o A e i o A e i o
All the 16 possible moods are not valid when the traditional rules of the categorical syllogism
are applied to them. The invalid ones are in small letters. Moods 6, 8, 14 and 16 are invalid because
they violate Rule 5 (No conclusion follows from two negative premises). Moods 11, 12, 15 and 16 are
likewise invalid because they violate Rule 8 (At least one premise must be universal). Mood 10 is also
invalid because in the conclusion if they are particular in the premises).
Disregarding all invalid moods, what are left are only eight valid ones.
These are:
Pair Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Major Premise A A A A E E I O
Minor Premise A E I O A I A A

When we combine these valid moods with figures, the combination results in the invalidation of some
of these eight valid moods in certain figures. This is so because there are special rules which govern
that figures of categorical syllogism. Violation of these special rules will yield one or more of the
fallacies (using traditional rules as basis) presented earlier.
Combining the eight valid moods with the four figures will yield 19 valid moods. Identification of these
valid moods by figures is facilitated by the following mnemonic verses which come in Latin
hexameters:
Barbara, Celarent, Darii, Ferioque prioris,
Cesare, Camestres. Festino, Baroco, secundae;
Tertia Darapti, Disamis, Datisi, Felapton,
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Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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Bocardo, Ferison habet; quarta insuper addit,

Bramantip, Camenes, Dimaris, Fesapo, Fresison.
The Latin words prioris, secundae, tertia, and quarta stand respectively for the first, second, third, and
fourth figures. The vowels in the word represent the moods of the syllogism in each figure. Thus, in
the first figure, the four modes are AAA in Barbara, EAE in Celarent, AII in Darii, and EIO in Ferio. In
the same manner, one can identify the mood in the three other figures. It should be remembered that
the pattern is represented as follows: the first vowel represents the major premise, the second vowel
the minor premise, and the third vowel the conclusion.

Valid Moods by Figure

First figure
The first figure is governed by the following special rules:
1. The major premise must be universal.
2. The minor premise must be affirmative.
Applying these rules, only four of the eight valid moods remain valid. These are: AAA, AII, EAE, and
EIO. Below are syllogisms with these valid moods:
A All dogs are animals,
A but fox terriers are dogs,
A therefore, fox terriers are animals.
Clue: BArbArA
A All men are mortal;
I but some kind creatures are men,
I therefore, some kind creatures are mortal.
Clue: dArII
E Selfish persons are not truly considerate,
A but power-hungry individuals are selfish,
E therefore, no power-hungry individuals are truly considerate.
Clue: cEIArEnt
E No nationalistic person is a traitor to his country,
I but some Filipinos are nationalistic persons,
O therefore, some Filipinos are not traitors to their country.
Clue: fErIO
Ignoring the special rules for the first figure will result in certain fallacies, as the following illustration
shows:
1. M a Pp 2. M e Pp S o M S e M S o Pu S e Pu
2. Mp l p 4. Mp o P S a Mp S a Mp
In the first and second cases, Rule 2 (the minor premise must be affirmative) is violated. This violation
results in the fallacy of illicit major because the major premise, which is affirmative, has a universal
 Burauen Community College
Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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predicate-term, whereas the conclusion, which is negative, has a particular predicate-term (cases 1 &
2).
In the third and fourth cases, Rule 1 (the major premise must be universal) is violated, resulting in the
fallacy of undistributed middle. As illustrations 3 and 4 show, the middle terms, which are the subject-
term of major premises, are particular, and as predicate-terms of minor premises, are also particular.
The same analytical process must be used in determining which moods are valid for the remaining
three figures.

Second Figure The second figure is subject to the following special rules:
1. The major premise must be universal.
2. One premise must be negative.
With these rules, only four moods remain valid. These are AEE, AOO, EAE, and EIO. These valid
moods are illustrated by the following syllogisms:
 AEE
o A: Westerners are materialistic.
o E: Asians are not materialistic.
o E: Therefore, Asians are not Westerners.
o Clue: cAmEstEs
 AOO
o A: All ambitious people are hard-working.
o O: Some persons are not hard-working.
o O: Hence, some persons are not ambitious.
o Clue: bArOcO
 EAE
o E: No kind acts are ill-motivated.
o A: All crimes are ill-motivated.
o E: Hence, no crimes are kind acts.
o Clue: cEsArE
 EIO
o E: No men are mortal beings.
o I: Some creatures are immortal beings.
o O: So, some creatures are not men.
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Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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o Clue: fEstInO
Violation of the rules for the second figure will result in certain fallacies, illustrated as follows:
1. P a Mp 2. P a Mp S a Mp S I Mp
2. P i Mp 4. Pp o M S a Mp S a Mp S o Pu
Cases 1 and 2 violate Rule 2 (one premise must be negative), resulting in the fallacy of undistributed
middle because the middle term, which is the predicate-term of both affirmative premises, is
particular.
Case 3 violates both Rule 1 (the major premise must be universal) and Rule 2, resulting in the fallacy
of undistributed middle.
Case 4 also violates Rule 1, resulting in the fallacy of illicit major, because as the subject-term of
proposition O, the major term is particular, but as the predicate-term of the conclusion, it is universal.

Third Figure The third figure is governed by the following special rules:
1. The minor premise must be affirmative.
2. The conclusion must be particular.
Applying these rules, six valid moods remain valid. These are AAI, AII, EAO, EIO, IAI, and OAO.
Examples for each of these are given below:
 AAI
o A: All working students are studious.
o A: All working students are poor.
o I: Therefore, some poor people are studious.
o Clue: dArAptI
 AII
o A: All Asians are family-loving.
o I: Some Asians are Filipino.
o I: Hence, some Filipinos are family-loving.
o Clue: dAtIsI
 EAO
o E: Dogs are not cats.
o A: Dogs are loyal pets.
o O: Therefore, some loyal pets are not cats.
o Clue: fEIAptOn
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Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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 EIO
o E: No successful men are lazy.
o I: Some successful men are very ambitious.
o O: So, some very ambitious men are not lazy.
o Clue: fErIsOn
 IAI
o I: Many Christians are into good works.
o A: All Christians are peace-loving.
o I: So, some peace-loving people are into good works.
o Clue: dIsAmIs
 OAO
o O: Few men are not considerate.
o A: Men are mortal.
o O: So, some mortal beings are not considerate.
o Clue: bOcArdO
When the rules for the third figure are ignored, the fallacy of illicit major is incurred. This is illustrated
by the following:
1. M a Pp 2. M a Pp M e S M o S S e Pu S o/e Pu
Both cases violate Rule 1 (the minor premise must be affirmative) because their minor premises are
negative, which results in negative conclusions, the predicate-term of which is universal in quality or
extension.

Fourth Figure The fourth figure has the following special rules:
1. If the major premise is affirmative, the minor premise must be universal.
2. If the minor premise is affirmative, the conclusion must be particular.
3. If one of the premises (and the conclusion) is negative, the major premise must be universal.
Applying these rules, five valid moods remain valid. These are AAI, AEE, EAO, EIO, and IAI.
Examples for these valid moods are presented below:
 AAI
o A: All radio commentators are courageous.
o A: All courageous people are socially motivated.
o A: So, some socially motivated people are courageous.
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Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
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o Clue: brAmAntIp
 AEE
o A: All farmers are hardworking.
o E: No hardworking people are into drugs.
o E: Therefore, no drug users are farmers.
o Clue: cAmEstrE
 EAO
o E: No criminals are honest.
o A: Honest persons are good leaders.
o O: Hence, some good leaders are not criminals.
o Clue: fEsApO
 EIO
o E: Angels are not mortal beings.
o I: Some mortal beings are God-fearing.
o O: Therefore, some God-fearing beings are not angels.
o Clue: fEstInO
 IAI
o I: Some athletes are very disciplined.
o A: All very disciplined men are religious.
o I: Hence, some very religious men are athletes.
o Clue: dIsAmIs
Ignoring the special rules for the first figure will result in certain fallacies, as the following illustration
shows:
1. M a Pp 2. M e Pp S o M S e M S o Pu S e Pu
2. Mp l p 4. Mp o P S a Mp S a Mp
In the first and second cases, Rule 2 (the minor premise must be affirmative) is violated. This violation
results in the fallacy of illicit major because the major premise, which is affirmative, has a universal
predicate-term, whereas the conclusion, which is negative, has a particular predicate-term (cases 1 &
2).
In the third and fourth cases, Rule 1 (the major premise must be universal) is violated, resulting in the
fallacy of undistributed middle. As illustrations 3 and 4 show, the middle terms, which are the subject-
term of major premises, are particular, and as predicate-terms of minor premises, are also particular.
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Poblacion District 9, San Diego, Burauen, Leyte
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The same analytical process must be used in determining which moods are valid for the remaining
three figures.