Syllogism Blog

False Syllogisms:
1. Main premise: Those who are pure of heart tell the truth.
Minor premise: "The pure of heart need no lawyers" (93).
Conclusion: Those who tell the truth need no lawyers

This syllogism is false because as sadly proved through the text, the truth does not always prevail. Although telling the truth is part of having a pure heart, the pure of heart do need lawyers, which makes the conclusion false. In a utopia, the cries of the innocent would have been heard and the truth would have shone through the web of deceit woven by the accusers, but in 1692 Salem, this was regrettably not the case.

2. Main premise: Witches lie
Minor Premise: Abigail lies
Conclusion: Abigail is a witch

This syllogism is false because although lying may be a characteristic of a witch, it is not a trait limited solely to them. Everyone has at some point lied and not been considered a witch. Although both premises are true to a degree, the conclusion that is reached from them is false because it was made from an illogical jump in generalizations.

3. Main premise: Football teams will play in the superbowl this year.
Minor premise: The Houston Texans are a football team.
Conclusion: The Houston Texans will play in the superbowl.

This is false because although two teams will play in the superbowl, and the Texans are a team, they will not be in the superbowl. Both premises are true, but the conclusion is not because although football teams play in the superbowl, not all of them do every year, only two. This gives the Texans a 1 in 16 chance of making it there, odds that become slimmer with every loss. The Texans have a chance to be in the superbowl, just like every other NFL team, but obtaining that goal would be a result of their effort and game play rather than their simply being a team.


True Syllogisms:
1. Main Premise: Cars require gas to run.
Minor Premise: My mom's car is blue.
Conclusion: My mom's blue car requires gas in order to run.

This is true because both premises are true and lead to a true conclusion. Although the color of the car does not effect the fact that it needs gas, both statements are still true.

2. Major Premise: Dogs wag their tails when they are happy.
Minor Premise: My dog is wagging her tail.
Conclusion: My dog is happy.

This is true because a universal trait among dogs is wagging their tails when they are happy. Therefore when my dog wags her tail, it can be logically concluded that she is happy.

3. Major Premise: Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen.
Minor Premise: Water is a key component of lakes.
Conclusion: Lakes contain hydrogen and oxygen.

This is true because both premises are true and logically create the conclusion. Since lakes must be made of water and water must be made of hydrogen and oxygen, then lakes in turn have hydrogen and oxygen in them.