Exists when propositions differ either in terms of their quality or quantity
2. Kinds
A. Contradictory opposition
Has propositions that differ in terms of their quality and quantity
o One is affirmative while the other is negative o One is universal and the other is particular o A and O, E and I are contradictories. o Propositions are contradictories when their value cannot be both true and false at the same time.
Examples:
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. False
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. True
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
Rules of contradictory opposition:
1. If one is true, the other is false.
2. If one is false, the other is true.
B. Contrary opposition
1 Has propositions that differ in terms of their quality but not in quantity. o They are both universal propositions. o One is affirmative while the other is negative. o A and E are contraries. o Propositions are contraries if they can be both false (undetermined) but not true at the same time.
Examples:
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. Undetermined
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. Undetermined
Rules of contrary opposition:
1. If one is true, the other is false.
2. If one is false, the other is undetermined.
C. Sub-contrary opposition
Has propositions that differ in terms of their quality but not in quantity. o They are both particular propositions. o One is affirmative while the other is negative. o I and O are sub-contraries. o Propositions are sub-contraries if they can be both true (undetermined) but not false at the same time in their value.
Examples:
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
2 O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. Undetermined
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. True
O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. True
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. Undetermined
O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. False
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
Rules of sub-contrary opposition:
1. If one is true, the other is undetermined.
2. If one is false, the other is true.
D. Subaltern opposition
Has propositions that differ in terms of their quantity but not in quality. o It exists in the A and I, E and O propositions o Propositions are subalterns if a universal proposition is opposite to its corresponding particular proposition.
Examples:
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. Undetermined
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
I – Some Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
A – All Ilocanos are Filipinos. Undetermined
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. True
O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. True
3 E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. False O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. Undetermined
O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. False
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. False
O – Some Ilocanos are not Filipinos. True
E – No Ilocanos are Filipinos. Undetermined
Rules of subaltern opposition for universal propositions:
1. If the universal is true, the particular is true.
2. If the universal is false, the particular is undetermined.
Rules of subaltern opposition for particular propositions:
1. If the particular is true, the universal is undetermined.
2. If the particular is false, the universal is false.
