MOODS AND FIGURES OF

CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISM
Reported by: ANGELICA JOYCE IGNACIO
The logical form of the Categorical Syllogism refers to the arrangements
of the middle term in the premises known as Figure and the arrangements of
the propositions according to the quality and quantity as Moods.
It is the different patterns of syllogisms that can be obtained from the
different arrangements that can be done with the Middle Term with respect to
the Major and the Minor Terms.
Figure of a syllogism is determined by the location of the Middle
Term, the term that appears in both premises.
Moods are the given configuration of premises and conclusion
according to quantity and quality.
There are four figures and each figure is defined by the position of the
middle term either as subject or predicate in the syllogism.
These are:

1st
2nd
3rd
4th

Figure:
Figure:
Figure:
Figure:

SUB-PRAE (SUBJECT- PREDICATE)

PRE-PRAE (PREDICATE- PREDICATE)
SUB-SUB
(SUBJECT- SUBJECT )
PRAE-SUB (PREDICATE-SUBJECT)

Take Note:
Four
A
E
I
O

Categorical Propositions:
Universal
AFFIRMATIVE
Universal
NEGATIVE
Particular
AFFIRMATIVE
Particular
NEGATIVE

a, e, i, o,

All S are P
No S are P
Some S are P
Some S are not P

- stands for the four categorical propositions and they combine

with the terms M S P, to denote the quantity of the subject term of
proposition.

For example: Ma means that the Middle Term is used as subject of A

proposition.
u, p

- stands respectively for universal and particular combine with

the symbols for terms to indicate the quantity of the predicate
For example: Pp means that the Major Term is particular predicate.
(+) sign
(-) sign

- stands for affirmative copula

- negative copula

Parts of Arguments:
M Middle Term
P Major Term
S Minor Term
1st Figure: Sub-Prae (SUBJECT- PREDICATE)
In the first figure, the Middle Term is the subject of the major premise
and the predicate in the minor premise. It is the natural place for the middle
term, because it is placed between major and minor terms, as they are found in
the conclusion.
M P
S M
S P
RULES
1. The Minor Premise must be affirmative.
2. The Major Premise must be universal.
Taking into consideration that the first figure requires a universal major
premise and an affirmative minor premise, only the following moods are
available:
BARBARA
CELARENT
DARII
FERIO

AAA
EAE
AII
EIO

Note that the vowels in each word stands respectively for the major
premise, the minor premise and the conclusion.

Reminders:
a. MAJOR TERM
b. MINOR TERM
c. MIDDLE TERM

predicate of the conclusion

subject of the conclusion
not found in conclusion but found in the premises;

which unites the major term and the minor term in affirmative and
separates in negative syllogism.
Examples:
Mood BARBARA
A. All men are rational,
But all Filipino are men;
Therefore, all Filipinos are rational
B. All professors are educators,
But Rita and Lina are professors;
Therefore, Rita and Lina are educators.
Mood CELARENT
A. No girl is boy,
But every boy is male;
Therefore, no girl is a male.
B. No reptiles have fur,
All snakes are reptiles;
Therefore, no snakes have fur.
Mood DARII
A. Anarchists are those who advocate violence,
But some radical groups are anarchists;
Therefore, some radical groups advocate violence.
B. All talkative individuals are shallow minded,
But some men are talkative individuals;

Therefore, some men are shallow minded.

Mood FERIO
A. No virtuous acts are sinful,
But some chastisements are virtuous acts;
Therefore, some chastisements are sinful.
B. No homework is fun,
Some reading is homework;
Some reading is not fun.

Reported by: ASHLEY GARCIA

The Second Figure presents the Middle Term (M)as predicate of both
premises (Predicate predicate)
P M
S M
S P

(Prae prae) Predicate - predicate

Rules:
1.
One premise must be negative
2.
The major premise must be universal
Rule 1: Since the Middle Term is predicate of both premises (Major and Minor),
it becomes necessary that one of the premises should be negative,
precisely, to establish the middle term as universal at least once.
Otherwise, the fallacy of undistributed middle is committed.
Rule 2. Since one of the premises is negative, the conclusion will also be
negative. In order to avoid the fallacy of illicit major, in the major
premise the subject-term which is the major term must be universal.
The valid moods for the Second Figure are:
Proposition Mnemonic

EAE
AEE
EIO
AOO
1.

cEsArE
cAmEstrEs
fEstInO
bArOcO

CESARE (EAE)
Pe - Mu
Sa + Mp

e, u Universal Negative in Major Premise

a, p Particular predicate in Universal Affirmative in

Minor Premise
Se -Pu
e, u Universal Negative
Example:
No triangle is four-sided (Middle Term prae)

E Universal Negative

(No) in Major Term

But all squares are four-sided(Middle Term prae)
Affirmative (All) in Minor Term
Therefore, No square is triangle

Universal

E Universal Negative (No)

*The Middle Term four-sided as predicate in the Major premise (prae)

The Middle Term four-sided as predicate in the Minor premise (prae)

2.

CAMESTRES (AEE)
Pa +Mp
a,p Universal Affirmative in Major Premise
Se - Mu
e, u Universal Negative in Minor Premise
Se -Pu
e, u Universal Negative -Conclusion

Example:
Every immoral act is condemnable (Middle Term prae)
Universal Affirmative (Every) in Major Term
But no kindness is condemnable (Middle Term-prae)

Universal

Negative (No) in Minor Term

Therefore, No kindness is an immoral act E Universal Negative (No.)
*The Middle Term condemnable as predicate in the Major premise (prae)
The Middle Term condemnable as predicate in the Minor premise (prae)
3.

FESTINO (EIO)
Pe- Mu

Si+Mp
So -Pu
Example:
No law-abiding citizen is a criminals (Middle Term prae)
Universal Negative (no) in Major Term
But some adults are criminals (Middle Term prae)

Affirmative (some) in Minor Term

Therefore, some adults are not law-abiding citizens

Particular

Particular

Negative (some, not)

*The Middle Term criminals as predicate in the Major premise (prae)
The Middle Term criminals as predicate in the Minor premise (prae)

4.

BAROCO (AOO)
Pa + Mp
So - Mu
So -Pu

Example:
All pianists are musicians (Middle Term prae)

Affirmative in Major Term (all)

But some artists are not musicians (Middle Term prae)
Particular Negative (some, not)
Therefore, some artists are not pianists

Universal
O

O Particular Negative (some,

not)
*The Middle Term musicians as predicate in the Major premise (prae)
The Middle Term musicians as predicate in the Minor premise (prae)

Moods of the FOURTH FIGURE

*Continuation
(2nd Rule Reported by: ASHLEY GARCIA
3rd Rule Reported by: ANGELICA JOYCE IGNACIO)
The Fourth Figure (Predicate Subject) is considered the reverse of the
First Figure (Subject Predicate). It presents the Middle Term (M) as the
predicate of the major premise and as the subject of the Minor Term (S).
P M
M S
S P

(Prae sub) Predicate - subject

Rules:
1.
If the major premise is affirmative, the minor premise must be universal
2.
If the minor premise is an affirmative, the conclusion must be particular
3.
If either premise is negative, the major term must be universal
Rule 1. If the major premise is affirmative, its predicate which is the Middle
Term is particular. Consequently, the minor premise must be
universal in order to establish the Middle Term as a universal and,
therefore, avoid an undistributed middle.

Rule 2. If the minor premise is affirmative, its predicate which is the minor
term is particular. To avoid an illicit minor, conclusion should be
particular.
Rule 3.If either premise is negative, the conclusion would be negative and its
predicate, which is the major term would be universal. In order to
avoid an illicit major, the major premise must be universal.
Note: Since either is negative, the conclusion must be negative.
The valid moods of the Fourth Figure are AAI, AEE, IAI, EAO, EIO
Proposition Mnemonic
AAI brAmAntIp
AEE cAmEnEs
IAI
dImArIs
EAO fEsApO
EIO frEsIsOn
1.

BRAMANTIP (AAI)
Pa + Mp
Ma + Sp
Si + Pp

Example:
Every merchant is an investor A Universal Affirmative (every) in Major
Term
But every investor is a risk-taker

A - Universal Affirmative (every) in

Minor Term
Therefore, some risk-takers are merchant I

Particular

Affirmative

(some)
*The Middle Term investor used as a predicate (prae) in the Major Premise
The Middle Term investor used as a subject (sub) in the Minor Premise
2.

CAMENES (AEE)
Pa + Mp
Me - Su
Se -Pu

Example:
All mammals are warm-blooded,
A Universal Affirmative (every)
But no warm-blooded animals is a reptile, E- Universal Negative (no)
Therefore, no reptile is a mammal
E- Universal Negative (no)
*The Middle Term warm-blooded used as a predicate (prae) in the Major
Premise
The Middle Term warm-blooded used as a subject (sub) in the Minor Premise
3.

DIMARIS (IAI)
Pi + Mp
Ma + Sp
Si + Pp

Example:
Some flowers are flagrant
I Particular Affirmative (some)
But all flagrant things are pleasant A Universal Affirmative (all)
Therefore, some pleasant things are flowers
I

Particular
Affirmative (some)
*The Middle Term flagrant used as a predicate (prae) in the Major Premise
The Middle Term flagrant used as a subject (sub) in the Minor Premise
4.

FESAPO (EAO)
Pe - Mu
Ma + Sp
So -Pu

e, u Universal Negative
a, p Universal Affirmative
o,u Particular Negative

Example:
No monkey is a linguist (predicate) E Universal Negative (no,is, a)
But alllinguist are educated (subject)
A Universal Affirmative (all,
are)
Therefore, some educated persons are not monkeys
Negative (some, are not)

Particular

*The Middle Term linguist used as a predicate (prae) in the Major Premise
The Middle Term linguist used as a subject (sub) in the Minor Premise
5.

FRESISON (EIO)
Pe - Mu (Universal Negative in Major Term)
Mi + Sp (Particular Affirmative in
So -Pu

Example:
No spider is a fly (predicate) E Universal Negative (no)
But some flies are insects(subject) I Particular Affirmative (some)
Therefore, some insects are not spiders
O Particular Negative (some,
not)
Fly (Middle Term) use it as predicate in the Major Premise
Flies Middle Term use it as subject in the Minor Premise