Identify the figure of the following syllogism: All great scientists are…
2024
Identify the figure of the following syllogism:
All great scientists are college graduates. Some professional athletes are college graduates. Therefore, some professional athletes are great scientists.
Answer: B. Figure II — ConceptIn a categorical syllogism, the figure is determined only by the position of the middle term in the major and minor premises. Let S be the subject of…
- A.
Figure I
- B.
Figure II
- C.
Figure III
- D.
Figure IV
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
In a categorical syllogism, the figure is determined only by the position of the middle term in the major and minor premises.
Let S be the subject of the conclusion, P its predicate, and M the middle term that appears in both premises but not in the conclusion.
Application
From the conclusion, ‘Some professional athletes are great scientists,’ take S = professional athletes and P = great scientists.
The major premise, ‘All great scientists are college graduates,’ has the form P–M.
The minor premise, ‘Some professional athletes are college graduates,’ has the form S–M.
Thus the middle term M is the predicate in both premises, giving the stable pattern P–M; S–M.
Cross-check
Compare the derived arrangement with the four standard figure patterns:
Figure | Major premise | Minor premise |
|---|---|---|
Figure I | M–P | S–M |
Figure II | P–M | S–M |
Figure III | M–P | M–S |
Figure IV | P–M | M–S |
The derived P–M; S–M arrangement is the row for Figure II.
Result
Therefore, the syllogism is Figure II.