How can it be a syllogism if it doesnt look like an A,E, I, or
O statement? Translating Ordinary Sentences into the Standard
Forms
Slide 2
Clearly identify the subject & predicate Seldom have
sailors had such acclaim. Becomes: Sailors have seldom had such
acclaim. OR Sailors are persons who have seldom had such acclaim.
All take great risks who put their eggs into one basket. Becomes:
All persons who put their eggs in one basket are persons who take
great risks.
Slide 3
Supply the missing quantifier Unless it is clear from the
context that some is intended, the rule is that all is meant.
Psychotics are dangerous. Should be: ALL psychotics are dangerous.
Americans are great sprinters. Should be: SOME Americans are great
sprinters.
Slide 4
Add the missing complement. Sometimes a complement needs to be
added to an adjective or to a describing phrase. Some lions are
docile (since we cannot point to a docile) becomes: Some lions are
docile creatures (or animals)
Slide 5
Supply the missing Copula Dogs bark. Should be: All dogs are
barking animals. Some ancients believed in devils. Should be: Some
ancient peoples are people who believed in devils.
Slide 6
Exclusive Sentences E.g., sentences beginning with only or none
but Only men are priests. Cannot mean: that all men are priests.
Only men are priests, means: All priests are men. THE RULE: Drop
the only or none but Add all as the quantifer Reverse the subject
and predicate None but adults are admitted. Means: All those
admitted persons are adults.
Slide 7
Negative Sentences Words such as nothing, none, no one are to
be replaced with the quantifier no. e.g. None of the damned is
happy. Becomes: No person who is damned is a happy person. Nothing
human frightens me. Becomes: No human beings are things that
frighten me.
Slide 8
More Negative sentences If the sentences says: All (subject)
are not (the predicate) or Every...not... follow the rule:
All...not... sentences should be interpreted as O sentences unless
they are CLEARLY E sentences. i.e., All... Not... Becomes Some...
Not.... All Germans are not Nazis, DOES NOT mean No Germans are
Nazis (E) But rather: Some Germans are not Nazis. (O)
Slide 9
Exceptive Sentences Sentences containing except cannot be
translated into any one of A,E, I, O sentences. Everyone except
women may attend. Means something expressed by: 1) All who are not
women may attend. (A) (All who are non-women may attend) and 2) No
women may attend. (E)
Slide 10
Exceptive Sentences (cont.) Since a syllogism requires only 3
sentences, we cannot use both in our syllogism. The rule: either
the A or E sentence may be used, but not both. An argument which
contains an exceptive sentence and which is valid will remain valid
if the exceptive sentence is interpreted either as an A sentence or
as an E sentence. See the next slide:
Slide 11
Another exceptive example All students except senior students
take Physical Education. Means: No seniors take Physical Education.
And All other students take Physical Education. Better yet: All
non-seniors take Physical Education.
Slide 12
If it has: Anyone, anything, Whoever, It translates into an A
sentence. Anyone who comes must participate. Anything which comes
must participate. Whoever comes must participate. Whatever comes
must participate. Everyone who comes must participate. If anyone
comes he must participate. The person who comes must participate
Becomes All who come must participate. All persons who come must
participate. All who come are people who participate.
