Logic Deductive and Inductive 013 Chapter 12
Logic Deductive and Inductive 013 Chapter 12
CHAPTER XII
Conditional Syllogisms
Section 1. Conditional Syllogisms may be generally described as
those that contain conditional propositions. They are usually
divided into two classes, Hypothetical and Disjunctive.
A Hypothetical Syllogism is one that consists of a Hypothetical
Major Premise, a Categorical Minor Premise, and a Categorical
Conclusion. Two Moods are usually recognised the Modus ponens,
in which the antecedent of the hypothetical major premise is
affirmed; and the Modus tollens, in which its consequent is denied.
(1) If A is not B, C is D;
(2) If A is not B, C is not D.
If A is B, C is D–
But if, instead of this, we deny the antecedent, to form the new
minor premise, This is not a case of A being B,
there arises a syllogism in the First Figure with a negative minor
premise, and therefore the fallacy of illicit process of the major
term.
If C is D, E is F;
If A is B, C is D:
.‘. If A is B, E is F.
Either A is B, or C is D;
A is not B (or C is not D):
.‘. C is D (or A is B).
Either A is B, or C is D;
A is B (or C is D):
.‘. C is not D (or A is not B).
If A is B, C is D; and if E is F, G is H:
But either A is B, or E is F;
.‘. Either C is D or G is H (Complex Constructive).
B:
Then A is B. Then E is F.
But if A is B, C is D; But if E is F, G is H;
(A is B): (E is F):
.‘. C is D. .‘. G is H.
.‘. Either C is D or G is H.
4. Complex Destructive–
If A is B, C is D; and if E is F, G is H:
But either C is not D, or G is not H:
.‘. Either A is not B, or E is not F.
But either virtue is not rewarded, or the villain does not triumph:
.‘. Either poetic justice is not observed, or the mirror is not held up
to Nature.
Such are the four Moods of the Dilemma that emerge if we only
use affirmative hypotheticals for the major premise; but, certainly,
it is often quite as natural to employ two negative hypotheticals
(indeed, one might be affirmative and the other negative; but waive
that); and then four more moods emerge, all having negative
conclusions. It is needless to intimidate the reader by drawing up
these four moods in battle array: they always admit of reduction to
the foregoing moods by obverting the hypotheticals. Still, by the
same process we may greatly decrease the number of moods of the
Categorical Syllogism; and just as some Syllogisms are most
simply expressed in Celarent or Cesare, so some Dilemmas are