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TRADITIONAL SQUARE OF OPPOSITION

Opposition- The logical relation that exists between two


contradictories, between two contraries, or in general between any
two categorical propositions that differ in quantity, quality, or other
respects. These relations are displayed on the square of opposition.

Contradictories- Two propositions so related that one is the


denial or negation of the other. On the traditional square of opposition,
the two pairs of contradictories are indicated by the diagonals of the square:
A and E propositions are the contradictories of O and I, respectively.
Ex: A proposition, “All judges are lawyers,” and the O proposition,
“Some judges are not lawyers,”

the E proposition, “No politicians are idealists,” and the I proposition,


“Some politicians are idealists,”

Contraries- Two propositions so related that they cannot both be true, although both may
Immediate inference - An inference that is drawn directly from one
be false. premise without the mediation of any other premise. Various kinds
of immediate inferences may be distinguished, traditionally including conversion, obversion,
Ex: “Texas will win the coming game with Oklahoma,” and “Oklahoma will win the coming and contraposition.
game with Texas,”
Mediate inference -Any inference drawn from more than one premise.
Contingent- Being neither tautologous nor selfcontradictory.
A contingent statement may be true or false. A is given as true: E is false; I is true; O is false.
E is given as true: A is false; I is false; O is true.
Subcontraries- Two propositions so related that they cannot both be false, although they
I is given as true: E is false; A and O are undetermined.
may both be true. O is given as true: A is false; E and I are undetermined.
Ex: I proposition, “Some diamonds A is given as false: O is true; E and I are undetermined.
are precious stones,” and the O proposition, “Some diamonds are not E is given as false: I is true; A and O are undetermined.
precious stones,” I is given as false: A is false; E is true; O is true.
Subalternation -The relation on the square of opposition between a universal O is given as false: A is true; E is false; I is true.*
proposition (an A or an E proposition) and its corresponding particular proposition (an I or an CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM
O proposition, respectively). In this relation, the particular proposition (I or O) is
called the “subaltern,” and the universal proposition (A or E) is called the “superaltern.” Statutory Construction & Syllogism: J. Leonen, Dissent in Risos-Vidal v.
Ex: A proposition, “All spiders are eight-legged animals,” has a corresponding I
proposition, “Some spiders are eight-legged animals.” Likewise, the E proposition, “No
COMELEC & Estrada, G.R. No. 206666, January 21, 2015
whales are fishes,” has a corresponding O proposition, “Some whales are not fishes.”

Square of opposition -A diagram in the form of a square in which the


four types of categorical propositions (A, E, I,
and O) are situated at the corners, exhibiting
the logical relations (called “oppositions”) among these propositions.

Four ways in which propositions may be “opposed”—as


contradictories, contraries, subcontraries, and as sub- and superalterns.

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