Chapter Three

Categorical Proposition

The Components of Categorical

Categorical propositions are the fundamental elements in the classical account of deductive
logic. A proposition that relates two classes, or categories, is called a categorical proposition.

The proposition asserts that either all or part of the class denoted by subject term is included in or
excluded from the class denoted by the predicate term.

E.g.: - Light rays travel at a fixed speed.

- Sea lions inhabit the coast of California.

- Not all convicted murderers get the death penalty.

There are exactly four types of categorical propositions. These are:

1. The whole subject class included in the predicate class.

2. The part of the subject class is included in the predicate class.
3. The whole subject class is excluded from the predicate class.
4. The subject class is excluded from the predicate class.

Quality, Quantity and Distribution

Quality and Quantity are attributes of categorical propositions.

Logical Forms

Proposition Meaning in class notation

All S are P. Every members of the ‘S’ class is the member of the ‘P’ class; that is,
the ‘S’ class is included in the ‘P’ class.

No S are P. No member of the ‘S’ class is a member of the of the ‘P’ class; that is,
the‘s’ class is excluded from the ‘P’ class.

Some S are P. At least one member of the ‘S’ class is a member of the ‘P’ class.

Some S are not P. At least one member of the ‘S’ class is not a member of the ‘P’ class.

The word “All”,” No”, and “Some” are called quantifiers because they specify how much of the
subject class is included in or excluded from the predicate class.

The word “are” and “are not” are called copula because they link the subject term with the
predicate term.

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E.g.: - All members of Ethiopia lawyer association are persons holding degrees, Masters and
PhD from recognized academic institutions.

The Quality of a Categorical Proposition determined by:

 Either affirmative or negative depending on whether it affirms or denies class

membership.
- All ‘S’ are ‘P’ and some ‘S are ‘P’ have affirmative qualities.
- No ‘S’ are ‘P’ and some ‘S’ are not ‘P’ have negative qualities.
 Either Universal or Particular depending on whether the statement makes claim about
every member or just some member of the class donated by the subject term.
- All ‘S’ are ‘P’ and No ‘S’ are ‘P’ each assert something about every
member of the class and thus are universal.
- Some ‘S’ are ‘P’ and Some ‘S’ are not ‘P’ assert something about one or
more members of the class and hence are particular.

The Quantity of Categorical Proposition Determined by:

 ‘All’ and ‘no’ imply universal quantity

 ‘Some’ imply particular quantity

Distribution
The Venn diagram of the Syllogism

A Venn diagram (also called primary diagram, set diagram or logic diagram) is a diagram that
shows all possible logical relations between a specific collections of different sets. These
diagrams show elements as points in the plane, and sets as regions inside closed curves.

It is an illustration of the relationships between and among sets, groups objects that share
something in common. Generally, it is an illustration of common characteristics.

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