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The Squre of Opposition

The document discusses the square of opposition and the different relationships between propositions. It explains that A and E propositions are contrary, meaning if one is true the other is false. I and O propositions are subcontrary, meaning if one is false the other is true but both can be true. A and I propositions are in a relationship of subalternation, where if A is true then I must be true. The document provides examples to illustrate these different relationships between propositions.

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85 views6 pages

The Squre of Opposition

The document discusses the square of opposition and the different relationships between propositions. It explains that A and E propositions are contrary, meaning if one is true the other is false. I and O propositions are subcontrary, meaning if one is false the other is true but both can be true. A and I propositions are in a relationship of subalternation, where if A is true then I must be true. The document provides examples to illustrate these different relationships between propositions.

Uploaded by

Anonymous DiR6ox83BG
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The squre of opposition

Contrary opposition is the relationship between two propositions when they


cannot both be true (although both may be false). Thus, we can make an
immediate inference that if one is true, the other must be false.

The law holds for the A and E propositions of the Aristotelian square of
opposition.

Rules:

1. if one is true , the other is false.

2. if one is false ,the other is douthful.


For example, the A proposition 'every man is honest' and the E proposition 'no
man is honest' cannot both be true at the same time, since no one can be
honest and not honest at the same time. But both can be false, if some men
are honest, and some men are not. For if some men are honest, the
proposition 'no man is honest' is false. And if some men are not honest, the
proposition 'every man is honest ' is false also.

A and O proposition are Contradictory, as are E and I propositions. Propositions are


contradictory when the truth of one implies the falsity of the other, and conversely. Here
we see that the truth of a proposition of the form All S are P implies the falsity of the
corresponding proposition of the form Some S are not P.

Rules:

1. If one is true, the other is false.

2. If one is false, the other is true.

For example, if the proposition "all industrialists are capitalists" (A) is true, then the
proposition "some industrialists are not capitalists" (O) must be false. Similarly, if "no
mammals are aquatic" (E) is false, then the proposition "some mammals are aquatic"
must be true.

I and O propositions are subcontrary. Propositions are subcontrary when it is


impossible for both to be false. Because "some lunches are free" is false, "some
lunches are not free" must be true. Note, however, that it is possible for corresponding I
and O propositions both to be true, as with "some nations are democracies," and "some
nations are not democracies." Again, I and O propositions are subcontrary, but not
contrary or contradictory.

Rules:

1. If one is false, the other is true.

2. If one is true, the other is doubtful.

For example:
Some man is happy.- false
Some man is not happy.- true

Some species die young.- true


Some species do not die young.- doubtful

Subalterns
A and I propositions are related by subalteration. Subalterns are a different sort of
'opposition', because a subalternation does not imply a contradiction at all. The truth of I
may be inferred by the truth of A. If "All S are P" is true, then we can be certain that
"Some S are P" must be true. The reverse, from I to A, is invalid. The same goes for the
negative propositions E and O . One can infer the truth of O from the validity of E, but
not vice versa.

Rules:

1. If the Universal is true, the particular is true;but if

the universal is false, the particular is doubtful.

2. If the particular is true, the universal is doubtful; but if the particular is false the
universal is false.

For example:

Every word is sacred.- true


Some word is sacred.- true

No word is sacred.- false


Some words is not sacred.- doubtful
Types of eduction

Conversion Is the formulation of a new proposition by interchanging the


subject and predicate but leaving its quality unchanged.

Rules for convertion:

1. Interchange the subject and predicate


2. Retain the quality of the prposition
3. Do not extend the term

Simple convertion

No man is an island;
No island is a man

The brother of joy is john;


John is the brother of joy.

Some dogs are fierce animals;


Some fierce animals are dogs.

Partial convertion

All men are mortal beings;


Some mortal beings are men.

All Filipino are mortal.


Some mortal beings are Filipinos.

Note: The A is thus converted partially and the O cannot be converted

Example: A

All Filipino are citizines


All citizens are Filipino

Example: O

Some dogs are not pit bulls


Some pit bulls are not dogs

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