Logic Term Paper
THE CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM
The categorical syllogism is the principal form of deductive interference. Its absolute manner of inferring when applied to certain premises is the kind most suited for imparting scientific and philosophical knowledge.
We may describe the Categorical Syllogism as a form of mental discourse wherein two concepts are compared to a third ‘middle concept’, and from the agreement of both with the middle concept, the mind infers agreement of both concepts among themselves; whereas, from the agreement of one with the middle concept and the disagreement of the other with the middle concept, the mind infers the disagreement of the two concepts among themselves. E.g.:
Intellectual beings are progressive.
But, brutes are not progressive;
Therefore brutes are not intellectual beings.
STEPS OF CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM
The mind takes several steps when making a categorical syllogism.
1. Apprehension or knowledge of three concepts.
2. Comparison of two of them with one of them, as a middle concept.
3. Perception of the agreement of the two concepts with the middle concept, and of the disagreement of other with it; and the pronouncement of the aforesaid in the manner of two propositional premises.
4. Perception and pronouncement of the agreement of the two concepts among themselves in the first case; or of the disagreement of the two concepts among themselves in the latter case, by way of interference.
TERMS IN CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM
The categorical syllogism has three terms:
1. Major Term
Major Term is the predicate of the conclusion. The major term must occur in the conclusion and in one of the premises, generally the first, which is therefore called the MAJOR PREMISE. We shall designate the major term by P, or, to display the structure of a syllogism more graphically, by a rectangle. ( ).
2. Minor Term
The minor term is the subject of the conclusion. The minor
The categorical syllogism is the principal form of deductive interference. Its absolute manner of inferring when applied to certain premises is the kind most suited for imparting scientific and philosophical knowledge.
We may describe the Categorical Syllogism as a form of mental discourse wherein two concepts are compared to a third ‘middle concept’, and from the agreement of both with the middle concept, the mind infers agreement of both concepts among themselves; whereas, from the agreement of one with the middle concept and the disagreement of the other with the middle concept, the mind infers the disagreement of the two concepts among themselves. E.g.:
Intellectual beings are progressive.
But, brutes are not progressive;
Therefore brutes are not intellectual beings.
STEPS OF CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM
The mind takes several steps when making a categorical syllogism.
1. Apprehension or knowledge of three concepts.
2. Comparison of two of them with one of them, as a middle concept.
3. Perception of the agreement of the two concepts with the middle concept, and of the disagreement of other with it; and the pronouncement of the aforesaid in the manner of two propositional premises.
4. Perception and pronouncement of the agreement of the two concepts among themselves in the first case; or of the disagreement of the two concepts among themselves in the latter case, by way of interference.
TERMS IN CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM
The categorical syllogism has three terms:
1. Major Term
Major Term is the predicate of the conclusion. The major term must occur in the conclusion and in one of the premises, generally the first, which is therefore called the MAJOR PREMISE. We shall designate the major term by P, or, to display the structure of a syllogism more graphically, by a rectangle. ( ).
2. Minor Term
The minor term is the subject of the conclusion. The minor