Square of Oppositions:

Contradictory and
Contrary
Lesson 9
Objectives:

• Understand the relationship among A, E, I, and O

propositions.
• Determine the truth-value of opposite propositions by
applying the
• rules of opposition.
SQUARE OF OPPOSITIONS
Logical Opposition/
Aristotelian Square

it refers to the relationship existing between two

proposition having the same subject and the same
predicate but differ in quantity or in quality or both
quantity or quality. Simply, it refers to the relationship
among A, E, I propositions, and O.
 Kinds of
Opposition
Contradiction

Propositions having the same subject term and same

predicate term but are different in both about their quality and
quantity.

Rules of Contradictories:
• If one is true, the other is false.
• If one is false, the other is true.
 Ex.
 Given Proposition: (A): All lawyers are dishonest

 Resulting Proposition: (O): Some lawyers are not

dishonest.
Contrary
when proposition have the same subject term, the same
predicate term, and are all of universal qualities yet are
different in quality.
Rules of Contrary:
• If one is true, the other is false.
• If one is false, the other is doubtful.
• Both can be false at the same time, but never true at the
same time.
Ex. Given Proposition: Resulting Proposition:
(A): All lawyers are dishonest. (E): All Lawyers are not dishonest
 Proposition Contradictory Contrary
Ex. All monkeys are primate. Some monkeys are not primate. No monkeys are primate.

No whales are reptiles. Some whales are reptiles. All whales are reptiles

No Christians are Muslims. Some Christians are Muslims. All Christians are Muslims.

All police are arrogant. Some police are not arrogant. No police are arrogant.

No Cocians are Ateneans. Some Cocians are Ateneans. All Cocians are Ateneans.