RULES OF THE

CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM
AND THE FORMAL
FALLACIES

LOGIC
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
 1. A valid categorical syllogism only has
three terms, each of which is used in
the same sense throughout the
argument.

All M are P All medical practioners are professionals.

All S are M All nurses are medical practioners.
All S are P Therefore, All nurses are professionals.
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
Analyze this example…
All M are P All men are rational beings.
No S is M No woman is a man.
No S is P Therefore, No woman is a rational being.

The term 'man' has two different meanings, hence

two different terms.

Formal Fallacy: Fallacy of Four Terms

 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
 2. The middle term must be
distributed at least once.

All M are P All politicians are sociable people.

All S are M All councilors are politicians.
All S are P Therefore, All councilors are sociable people.
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
Analyze this example…
All P are M All sharks are fish.
All S are M All salmon are fish .
All S are P Therefore, All salmon are sharks .

The middle term ‘fish’ as used in both premises is

never distributed.

Formal Fallacy: Fallacy of Undistributed middle

 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
 3. If a term is distributed in the
conclusion, then it must be
distributed in a premise.
No M are P No honest persons are liars.
All S are M All saints are honest persons.
No S are P Therefore, No saints are liars.
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
 3. If a term is distributed in the
conclusion, then it must be
distributed in a premise.
All M are P All politicians are sociable people.
All S are M All councilors are politicians.
All S are P Therefore, All councilors are sociable people.
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
Analyze this example…
All M are P All horses are animals.
Some S are not M Some dogs are not horses.
Some S are not P Therefore, Some dogs are not animals.

The major term ‘animals’ is distributed in the

conclusion, but not in the major premise.

Formal Fallacy: Fallacy of Illicit Major

 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
Analyze this example…
All P are M All tigers are mammals.
All M are S All mammals are animals.
All S are P Therefore, All animals are tigers.

The minor term ‘animals’ is distributed in the

conclusion, but not in the minor premise.

Formal Fallacy: Fallacy of Illicit Minor

 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
 4. Two negative premises are not
allowed.

No M are P No fish are mammals.

Some S are not M Some dogs are not fish.
All S are P Therefore, All dogs are mammals.

Formal Fallacy: Fallacy of Exclusive Premises

 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
 5. If either premise is negative, the
conclusion must be negative.

No P are M No heroes are cowards.

Some S are M Some soldiers are cowards.
Some S are not P Therefore, Some soldiers are not heroes.
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
Analyze this example…
All M are P All crows are birds.
Some M are not S Some wolves are not crows.
Some S are P Therefore, Some wolves are birds.

The minor premise is negative but the conclusion is

affirmative.

Formal Fallacy: Drawing an affirmative

conclusion from a negative premise
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
 6. If both premises are affirmative, then
the conclusion must be affirmative.

All P are M All risk-takers are gamblers.

Some S are M Some Filipinos are gamblers.
Some S are P Therefore, Some Filipinos are risk-takers.
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
Analyze this example…
All P are M All risk-takers are gamblers.
Some S are M Some Filipinos are gamblers.
Some S are not P Therefore, Some Filipinos are not risk-takers.

Both the premises are affirmative but the conclusion

is negative.

Formal Fallacy: Drawing a negative conclusion

from an affirmative premise
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS

 7. If both premises are universal,

the conclusion cannot be particular.

All M are P All medical practioners are professionals.

All S are M All nurses are medical practioners.
All S are P Therefore, All nurses are professionals.
 II. RULES FOR MAKING VALID
CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
Analyze this example…
All M are P All mammals are animals.
All S are M All tigers are mammals.
Some S are not P Therefore, Some tigers are not animals.

Both premises are universal but the conclusion is

particular.

Formal Fallacy: Existential fallacy

SUMMARY
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.
1. All P are Q 6. Some M are not N
All R are Q All M are O
/ All R are P. / Some O are not N
2. Some S are not T 7. No R are T
No S is U All S are T
/ Some S are not R.
/ Some U are not T
3. All C is A 8. Some Y are X
No B are C All X are not Z
/ No B is A / Some Z are Y

4. No F are E. 9. All L are N.

Some D are F. Some N are not M.
/ No M are L.
/ No D are E.
5. Every I are H 10. No P are A
All G are H All X are B.
/ No G are I / No X are P.
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

1. All P are Q
All R are Q
/ All R are P.

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

2. Some S are not T

No S is U
/ Some U are not T

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

3. All C is A
No B are C
/ No B is A

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

4. No F are E.
Some D are F.
/ No D are E.

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

5. Every I are H
All G are H
/ No G are I

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

6. Some M are not N

All M are O
/ Some O are not N

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

7. No R are T
All S are T
/ Some S are not R.

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

8. Some Y are X
All X are not Z
/ Some Z are Y

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

9. All L are N.
Some N are not M.
/ No M are L.

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 Seatwork
(a) Say whether the syllogism is valid or invalid. (b) Identify the rule
that is violated, and (c) name the fallacy that they commit.

10. No P are A
All X are B.
/ No X are P.

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Rule 6 Rule 7

Validity
Rules Violated
Fallacy
 SUMMARY OF ANSWERS
Syllogi Rule Rule Rule Rule Rule Rule Rule Vali- Fal-
sms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 dity lacy

1  x      Invalid Un M
2    x    Invalid Ex Pr
3   x     Invalid IL Ma
4   x     Invalid IL Mi
5 Un Mi
 x    x  Invalid
DNA
6        Valid
7       x Invalid Ex Fa
8     x   Invalid DAN
9  x      Invalid Un M
10 X       Invalid 4 Trm