General Rules of the Basic Categorical Syllogism

RULE 1: There must be three terms and only three- the major term, the minor term and the
middle term.
For 2 terms to be counted as they must have exactly the same meaning and used exactly in the
same way in each occurrence.
Name of violation: FALLACY OF FOUR TERMS OR FALLACY OF EQUIVOCATION
RULE 2: Each term must occur in two propositions. The major term must occur in the
conclusion, as predicate, and in one of the two premises, which is called the major premise.
The minor term must occur in the conclusion, as subject, and in the other premise, which is
called the minor premise. The middle term must occur in both premises but not in the
conclusion.
Two propositions are necessary for the middle term to be able to fulfill its function of uniting or
separating the major and minor terms and a third proposition is required to express the union or
separation of the minor and major terms.
There being no name for the violation, just write : Violates Rule 2
RULE 3: The major and minor terms may not be universal in the conclusion unless they are
universal in the premises.
We may not conclude about all the inferiors of a term if the premise has given us information about
only some of them.
Name of violation: ILLICIT PROCESS OF THE MAJOR TERM OR ILLICIT PROCESS OF THE
MINOR TERM
RULE 4: The middle term must be universal at least once.

When the middle term is particular in both premises, it might stand for two different portion of its
extension in each occurrence and thus be equivalent to two terms and thereby fail to perform its
function of uniting or separating the major and minor terms.
Name of violation: FALLACY OF THE UNDISTRIBUTED MIDDLE

RULE 5: If both premises are affirmative, the conclusion must be affirmative.

Affirmative premises unite the major and minor terms so for the conclusion to be able to fulfill its
function, it must express such unity.
Name of violation: DRAWING A NEGATIVE CONCLUSION FROM AFFIRMATIVE PREMISES
RULE 6: If one premise is affirmative and the other is negative, the conclusion must be
negative.
A negative premise separates the major and minor terms so for the conclusion to be able to fulfill
its function, it must express such separation.
Name of violation: DRAWING AN AFFIRMATIVE CONCLUSION FROM A NEGATIVE PREMISE
RULE 7: If both premises are negative-and not equivalently affirmative-there is no conclusion
at all.

For the middle term to be able to fulfill its function of uniting or separating the major and minor
terms, it must be united with at least one of them. If both premises are negative the middle term
is not united with either the major term or the minor term. Thus, no conclusion can be drawn from
the premises.
Name of the violation: FALLACY OF NEGATIVE PREMISES

RULE 8: At least one premise must be universal.

Rule 8 is a corollary of Rules 3 and/or 4 meaning that if Rule 8 is violated; either or both Rules 3
and 4 are also violated.
There being no name for the violation, just write: Violates Rule 8
RULE 9: If a premise is particular, the conclusion must be particular.
Rule 9 is also a corollary of Rules 3 and/or 4 meaning that if Rule 9 is violated; either or both Rules
3 and 4 are also violated.
Name of violation: DRAWING A UNIVERSAL CONCLUSION FROM A PARTICULAR PREMISE

EXERCISE ON THE BASIC CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM

Identify the major, minor and middle terms and determine whether the syllogisms are valid or not. If invalid, choose
the letter(s) corresponding to your answer.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Fallacy of Four Terms

Fallacy of Equivocation
Rule 2
Illicit Process of the Major Term
Illicit Process of the Minor Term
Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle

G. Drawing a Negative Conclusion from Affirmative Premises

H. Drawing an Affirmative Conclusion from a Negative Premise
I. Fallacy of Negative Premises
J. Rule 8
K. Drawing a Universal Conclusion from Particular Premise

1. All textbooks are books intended for careful study

But, some reference books are not textbooks
Therefore, all reference books are not books intended for careful study
2. All criminals actions are wicked deeds
All prosecutions for murder are criminal actions
Therefore, all prosecutions for murder are wicked deeds
3. No tragic actors are idiots
But a few comedians are idiots
Therefore, a few comedians are not tragic actors
4. Most spaniels are not good hunters
Every spaniel is a gentle dog
Therefore, every gentle dog is a good hunter
5. Chocolate clairs, without exception, are fattening food
Because a number of chocolate clairs are rich desserts
Therefore, every rich dessert is not a fattening food
6. All inventors are people who see new patterns in familiar things
Since eccentrics, in general, are people who see new patterns in familiar things
Therefore, all inventors are not eccentrics
7. Dog is a three-lettered word
But some animals are dogs
Therefore, some animals are three-lettered words
8. Most opponents of basic economic and political changes are outspoken critics of the liberal leaders
All right wing extremists are opponents of basic economic and political changes
It follows that all outspoken critics of the liberal leaders are not right wing extremists
9. Almost all writers of lewd and sensationalized articles are not honest and decent citizens
But not all journalists are writers of lewd sensationalized articles
Consequently, some journalists are honest and decent citizens
10. No colas are nourishing drinks
But, a number of sodas are colas
Thus, no juices are nourishing drinks

EXAMPLES OF SYLLOGISMS
VALID
Every statute is a law
But, the IPRA is a statute
Therefore, the IPRA is a law
RULE 1
A ruler is an instrument for drawing straight lines
But President Aquino is a ruler
Therefore, President Aquino is an instrument for drawing straight lines
Rule 2
No atheist is an agnostic
But, an atheist is a non-Christian
Therefore, a non-Christian is a non-believer
Rule 3
Artists, without exception, are individuals attuned to their emotions
But, some writers are not artists
Therefore, some writers are not individuals attuned to their emotions
All of the ballerinas are professionals
But, most of the ballerinas are graceful dancers
Therefore, all professionals are graceful dancers
Rule 4
A monkey is banana-eater
But, you are a banana-eater
Therefore, you are a monkey
Rule 5
All prisoners in state penitentiaries are convicted criminals
But, some convicted criminals are incorrigible
Therefore, some convicted criminals are not incorrigible
Rule 6
A crow is never a white bird
But, a dove is a white bird
Therefore, a dove is a crow
Rule 7
No opinion is an absolute statement of a truth
But, not all absolute statements of a truth are facts
Therefore, no opinion is a fact
Rule 8
Almost all bar questions are not multiple choice questions
But some bar questions are difficult questions
Therefore, most multiple choice questions are not difficult questions
Rule 9
Each notarized document is a document with legal character
But some documents with legal character are deeds of conveyances
Therefore, all deeds of conveyances are notarized documents