∴ It cannot be accepted.
(10) If the conclusion is particular, must one premise be particular? Explain.
CHAPTER 12.
FIGURES AND MOODS OF THE SYLLOGISM.
1. THE FOUR FIGURES OF THE SYLLOGISM.
By a figure of a syllogism is meant some particular arrangement of the three terms in the two premises. The conclusion is eliminated from this discussion, because in it the arrangement of the terms is constant, the major term always being used as the predicate of the conclusion and the minor as the subject. Using the symbols M, G and S, we find that there are four possible arrangements and, therefore, but four figures. These may be represented as follows:
| First figure | Second figure | Third figure | Fourth figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| M — G | G — M | M — G | G — M |
| S — M | S — M | M — S | M — S |
| S — G | S — G | S — G | S — G |
No matter what the syllogism, if it is to be proved “logical,” it should be made to fit one of the four figure-types. To be sure, it may fit the figure without being logical, but it cannot be strictly logical without fitting the figure. The following valid syllogisms conform to the four figures as will be seen by the symbolized terms:
First figure: All M
men are G
mortal,
S
Socrates is a M
man,