Introduction
to Syllogism
Week 3
Topic 2
By the end of this session, students should be able to:
Define a categorical syllogism and its components
(major, minor, and middle terms).
Identify the standard forms of syllogisms (A, E, I, O
Session types).
Objectives Apply the rules for determining syllogism validity.
Construct valid syllogisms using clinical examples.
Distinguish between valid and invalid reasoning in
nursing contexts.
Introduction to
A syllogism is a structured
Syllogism argument consisting of:
• Major Premise: General rule
syllogismos – Greek word (contains the major term)
which means inference or • Minor Premise: Specific case
conclusion through reasoning (contains the minor term)
• Conclusion: Logical inference that
A syllogism is a logical tool used to connects the two via the middle
derive a conclusion from two
related statements (premises). It is
term
a foundational method in logic,
philosophy, and reasoning.
Key Terms in a • Major Term: The predicate (last
part) of the conclusion
Syllogism • Minor Term: The subject (first part)
of the conclusion
• Middle Term: The term that
appears in both premises but NOT
in the conclusion and connects
the major and minor terms
Example
Major Premise: All Conclusion:
Minor Premise: Maria
nurses are Therefore, Maria is a
is a nurse.
healthcare providers. healthcare provider.
(Middle = nurses;
Major = (Minor = Maria;
(Minor to Major)
healthcare Middle = nurse)
providers)
Standard Form of Categorical Syllogism
Standard Form:
All A are B (Major Premise)
C is A (Minor Premise)
Therefore, C is B (Conclusion)
Example
(Major) Premise 1: All diabetic patients need
insulin.
(Minor) Premise 2: Mr. Cruz is a diabetic
patient.
Conclusion: Therefore, Mr. Cruz needs insulin.
Types of Categorical Syllogisms
A (Universal Affirmative): All S are P
E (Universal Negative): No S are P
I (Particular Affirmative): Some S are P
O (Particular Negative): Some S are not P
A (Universal Affirmative): All S are
P
Premise 1: All licensed nurses are
registered professionals.
Premise 2: Ana is a licensed nurse.
Conclusion: Therefore, Ana is a
registered professional.
E (Universal Negative): No S are P
Premise 1: No patients in isolation are
allowed visitors.
Premise 2: Mr. Reyes is a patient in
isolation.
Conclusion: Therefore, Mr. Reyes is not
allowed visitors.
I (Particular Affirmative): Some S
are P
Premise 1: Some nurses are trained in
palliative care.
Premise 2: Nurse Jamie is a nurse.
Conclusion: Therefore, Nurse Jamie
might be trained in palliative care.
O (Particular Negative): Some S are
not P
Premise 1: Some medications are not
suitable for pediatric patients.
Premise 2: Paracetamol is a medication.
Conclusion: Therefore, Paracetamol may
not be suitable for pediatric patients.
6 Rules of Valid Syllogism
1. Exactly three terms: There must
be a major, minor, and middle
term.
Invalid: All nurses are healthcare
workers. Ana is a registered nurse.
Ana is dedicated. (Too many terms)
Valid: All nurses are healthcare
workers. Ana is a nurse. Therefore,
Ana is a healthcare worker.
2. Middle term must be distributed
at least once.
Invalid: Some nurses are professionals.
Some professionals are caregivers. (Middle
term “professionals” is not distributed)
Valid: All nurses are professionals. Some
professionals are caregivers. Therefore,
some nurses are caregivers.
3. If a term is distributed in the
conclusion, it must be in the premise.
Invalid: No doctors are nurses. All nurses are
employees. Therefore, no doctors are
employees. ("doctors" is distributed in the
conclusion but not in any premise.)
Valid: No nurses are doctors. All nurses are
employees. Therefore, some employees are
not doctors.
4. No two negative premises
Invalid: No patients are nurses.
Some interns are not patients.
Valid: All interns are patients. Some
patients are not nurses. Therefore,
some interns are not nurses.
5. If one premise is negative, the
conclusion must be negative.
Invalid: No interns are nurses. Some nurses are
caregivers. Therefore, some interns are
caregivers. (Premise is negative, conclusion is
affirmative.)
Valid: No interns are nurses. Some nurses are
caregivers. Therefore, some interns are not
caregivers.
6. Two particular premises
cannot yield a valid conclusion.
Invalid: Some patients are elderly.
Some elderly are diabetic. Therefore,
some patients are diabetic.
Valid: All elderly are patients. Some
elderly are diabetic. Therefore, some
patients are diabetic.
Identify the Valid
Syllogism
All doctors are
professionals.
All nurses are
Syllogism 1 professionals.
Therefore, all nurses are
doctors.
All doctors are
professionals.
Valid All professionals are
Syllogism 1 nurses.
Therefore, all doctors are
nurses.
Some patients are
elderly.
Some elderly are
Syllogism 2 diabetic.
Therefore, some
patients are diabetic.
All elderly are patients.
Valid Some elderly are
Syllogism 2 diabetic.
Therefore, some
patients are diabetic.
No interns are doctors.
Some nurses are
Syllogism 3 caregivers.
Therefore, some interns
are caregivers.
No interns are doctors.
Valid Some nurses are
Syllogism 3 caregivers.
Therefore, some interns
are not caregivers.
No therapists are
surgeons.
No nurses are
Syllogism 4 therapists.
Therefore, no nurses
are surgeons.
All nurses are therapists.
Valid No therapists are
Syllogism 4 surgeons.
Therefore, no nurses are
surgeons.
All pharmacists are health
professionals.
Syllogism 5
Anna is a nurse.
Therefore, Anna is a
health professional.
All nurses are health
professionals.
Valid
Syllogism 5
Anna is a nurse.
Therefore, Anna is a
health professional.
Some doctors are not
volunteers.
Some volunteers are
Syllogism 6 nurses.
Therefore, some
doctors are not nurses.
All volunteers are
nurses.
Some doctors are not
Valid Syllogism 6
volunteers.
Therefore, some
doctors are not nurses.
See you
at 3:15
PM for a
quiz!
