Category:Definitions/Figures of Categorical Syllogisms

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This category contains definitions related to Figures of Categorical Syllogisms.
Related results can be found in Category:Figures of Categorical Syllogisms.


There are four patterns of categorical syllogism depending on the order of the terms in the major premise and minor premise.

Let $\mathbf \Phi_1, \mathbf \Phi_2, \mathbf \Phi_3$ each be one of the categorical statements $\mathbf A$, $\mathbf E$, $\mathbf I$ or $\mathbf O$.

Let $P$ denote the primary term, $S$ denote the secondary term and $M$ denote the middle term.

The four possible figures are as follows:


$\text I$

  Major Premise:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_1} {M, P}$
  Minor Premise:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_2} {S, M}$
  Conclusion:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_3} {S, P}$


$\text {II}$

  Major Premise:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_1} {P, M}$
  Minor Premise:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_2 } {S, M}$
  Conclusion:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_3} {S, P}$


$\text {III}$

  Major Premise:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_1} {M, P}$
  Minor Premise:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_2} {M, S}$
  Conclusion:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_3} {S, P}$


$\text {IV}$

  Major Premise:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_1} {P, M}$
  Minor Premise:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_2} {M, S}$
  Conclusion:   $\map {\mathbf \Phi_3} {S, P}$