RULES OF THE

CATEGORICAL
SYLLOGISM
AND THE FORMAL
FALLACIES

LOGIC

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
1. A valid categorical syllogism only
SYLLOGISMS

has three terms, each of which is

used in the same sense throughout
the argument.

All M are
P
All S are M

All medical practioners are

professionals.
All nurses are medical practioners.

All S are P

Therefore, All nurses are

professionals.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Analyze this example
SYLLOGISMS
All M are
P
No S is M

All men are rational beings.

No S is P

Therefore, No woman is a rational

being.

No woman is a man.

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 S are M

All politicians are sociable people.

All S are P

Therefore, All councilors are sociable

people.

All councilors are politicians.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Analyze this example
SYLLOGISMS
All P are
M
All S are M

All sharks are fish.

All S are P

Therefore, All salmon are sharks .

All salmon are fish .

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
All S are M

No honest persons are liars.

No S are P

Therefore, No saints are liars.

All saints are honest persons.

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 S are M

All politicians are sociable people.

All S are P

Therefore, All councilors are sociable

people.

All councilors are politicians.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Analyze this example
SYLLOGISMS
All M are
P
Some S are not
M
Some S are not
P

All horses are animals.

Some dogs are not horses.
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
Analyze this example
SYLLOGISMS
All P are
M
All M are S

All tigers are

mammals.
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
Some S are not
M
All S are P

No fish are mammals.

Some dogs are not fish.
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
Some S are M
Some S are not
P

No heroes are
cowards.
Some soldiers are
cowards.
Therefore,
Some soldiers are not
heroes.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Analyze this example
SYLLOGISMS
All M are
P
Some M are not
S

Some S are
P

All crows are birds.

Some wolves are not
crows.
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 universal,
the conclusion cannot be particular.

All M are
P
All S are M

All medical practioners are

professionals.
All nurses are medical practioners.

All S are P

Therefore, All nurses are

professionals.

II. RULES FOR MAKING

VALID CATEGORICAL
Analyze this example
SYLLOGISMS
All M are
P
All S are M
Some S are not
P

All mammals are animals.

All tigers are mammals.
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
All R are Q
/ All R are P.

6. Some M are not N

All M are O
/ Some O are not N

2. Some S are not T

No S is U
/ Some U are not T

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

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

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

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

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

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

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