Consider the following statements in the square of opposition: (A) If ‘A’ is…
2024
Consider the following statements in the square of opposition:
(A) If ‘A’ is true, ‘E’ is false.
(B) If ‘E’ is false, ‘O’ is undetermined.
(C) If ‘I’ is false, ‘A’ is true.
(D) If ‘O’ is true, ‘I’ is true.
(E) If ‘I’ is true, ‘A’ is false.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer: A. (A) and (B) Only — ConceptOn the traditional square of opposition, A and E are contraries, A and O are contradictories, E and I are contradictories, and I and O are…
- A.
(A) and (B) Only
- B.
(B), and (C) Only
- C.
(C) and (D) Only
- D.
(D) and (E) Only
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
On the traditional square of opposition, A and E are contraries, A and O are contradictories, E and I are contradictories, and I and O are subcontraries.
Contraries cannot both be true; contradictories always have opposite truth values. Truth descends from A to I and from E to O, while falsity ascends in the reverse direction.
Application
If A is true, E must be false because A and E are contraries. Thus statement (A) holds.
If E is false, its contradictory I is true. This does not fix O: O may be true or false, so statement (B) holds.
If I is false, E is true because they are contradictories; since A and E cannot both be true, A is false. Therefore statement (C) does not hold.
If O is true, A is false because they are contradictories, but I can be true or false. Therefore statement (D) does not follow.
If I is true, E is false because they are contradictories, but A can be true or false. Therefore statement (E) does not follow.
Cross-check and contrast
(A) and (B) only contains the two supported statements.
(B) and (C) only includes statement (C), which reverses the consequence of I being false.
(C) and (D) only includes two conclusions that do not follow.
(D) and (E) only treats two undetermined relations as fixed.
Therefore, the correct combination is (A) and (B) only.