The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Choose the most appropriate response that accurately and completely answer the question. Aristotle, an ancient philosopher, was one of the first to discuss syllogisms. In Prior Analytics, published around 350 BCE, Aristotle outlined the basic form of syllogism which represented the earliest branch of formal logic. For Aristotle, logic revolved around deduction : “speech in which certain things having been supposed something different from those supposed results of necessity because of their being so.” If that sounds confusing – that’s ancient philosophy for you! Let’s break it down. “The things that have been supposed” are what we now call “premises”. “What results necessarily” from those premises being true is a conclusion. To Aristotle, if an argument was valid, it would be impossible for premises X and Y to be true and for conclusion Z to be false. Aristotle named this method of proving validity “reductio ad impossibile” : a syllogism is valid when the denial of the conclusion but acceptance of the premises would lead to a contradiction. Aristotle divided syllogistic propositions into four different categories : universal affirmative, particular affirmative, universal negative and particular negative. A universal affirmative syllogistic sentence : All humans need food. A particular affirmative syllogistic sentence : Some birds can fly. A universal negative syllogistic sentence : No dogs are cats. A particular negative syllogistic sentence : Not all cars have four doors. During the rise of modern formal logic, German philosopher Gottlob Frege refined Aristotle’s syllogistic theory through the addition of non-categorical syllogisms. These are syllogisms that rely on premises and can be hypothetical, or which include disjunctions like ‘or’. The hypothetical form of syllogisms can be traced back to Stoic philosophy, but modern philosophers tend to attribute the theory to Frege. In the 19th century, British philosopher and economist John Neville Keynes also helped make non-categorical syllogisms popular. Here’s an example of a hypothetical syllogism : 1. If it is sunny tomorrow, I can go running. 2. It is sunny. 3. Therefore, I can go running. Here’s an example of a disjunctive syllogism : 1. Patrick studies English or Linguistics. 2. Patrick is not studying Linguistics. 3. Therefore, he is studying English. In the Begriffsschrift (German for “Concept-Script”), he refined Aristotle’s system by developing a logical system that explained how quantifiers (words like “all” and “some”) work. His system also became the basis for modern computer science.

Question

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Select the appropriate option to fill the blank.
In the line, ‘Aristotle outlined the basic form of syllogism….’ in paragraph 1, the writer means that Aristotle _______ the topic.

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The writer’s use of an exclamation mark in the line ‘... that’s ancient philosophy for you!’, from paragraph 2. What is the most likely tone this indicates ?

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Select the option that is true for both (1) and (2) below, according to paragraph 3.
A conclusion is the main feature of a premise.=
Premises need to be proven true for a conclusion to occur.

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Select the option that substitutes the underlined word correctly in the given line.
‘These are syllogisms that rely on premises being hypothetical……’

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Select the option that uses a ‘quantifier’, as mentioned in the last paragraph.

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Let the following premises be true : “If it is sunny on any given day, I can go running.”, and “It is not sunny today.” Which of the following must be true ?

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

If a majority of spoons are forks, then which of the following could be true ?

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Assume that (A) a majority of blankets are sheets, (B) a majority of blankets are tablecloths, and (C) no non-blanket sheet (i.e., a sheet that is not a blanket) is a non-blanket tablecloth (i.e., a tablecloth that is not a blanket). Which of the following is true ?

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

A minority of wallets are purses. A majority of wallets are perfumes. Which of the following could be true ?

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

A majority of Formula 1 cars are race-cars. All race-cars drive on four wheels. All four-wheeled cars are twenty times as fast as cars that drive on any other number of wheels. Speed is the only determining factor for winning a race that involves cars. Which of the following is/are correct?

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

A minority of folders are documents. Which of the following is not true ?

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

All moons are asteroids. All planets are celestial bodies. Some planets are moons. Therefore,

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Top Questions on Reading Comprehension

Questions Asked in AILET exam

Select the appropriate option to fill the blank.In the line, ‘Aristotle outlined the basic form of syllogism….’ in paragraph 1, the writer means that Aristotle _______ the topic.

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The writer’s use of an exclamation mark in the line ‘... that’s ancient philosophy for you!’, from paragraph 2. What is the most likely tone this indicates ?

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Select the option that is true for both (1) and (2) below, according to paragraph 3.A conclusion is the main feature of a premise.=Premises need to be proven true for a conclusion to occur.

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Select the option that substitutes the underlined word correctly in the given line.‘These are syllogisms that rely on premises being hypothetical……’

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Select the option that uses a ‘quantifier’, as mentioned in the last paragraph.

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Let the following premises be true : “If it is sunny on any given day, I can go running.”, and “It is not sunny today.” Which of the following must be true ?

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

If a majority of spoons are forks, then which of the following could be true ?

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Assume that (A) a majority of blankets are sheets, (B) a majority of blankets are tablecloths, and (C) no non-blanket sheet (i.e., a sheet that is not a blanket) is a non-blanket tablecloth (i.e., a tablecloth that is not a blanket). Which of the following is true ?

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

A minority of wallets are purses. A majority of wallets are perfumes. Which of the following could be true ?

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

A majority of Formula 1 cars are race-cars. All race-cars drive on four wheels. All four-wheeled cars are twenty times as fast as cars that drive on any other number of wheels. Speed is the only determining factor for winning a race that involves cars. Which of the following is/are correct?

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

A minority of folders are documents. Which of the following is not true ?

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

All moons are asteroids. All planets are celestial bodies. Some planets are moons. Therefore,

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Top Questions on Reading Comprehension

Questions Asked in AILET exam

Select the appropriate option to fill the blank.
In the line, ‘Aristotle outlined the basic form of syllogism….’ in paragraph 1, the writer means that Aristotle _______ the topic.

Select the option that is true for both (1) and (2) below, according to paragraph 3.
A conclusion is the main feature of a premise.=
Premises need to be proven true for a conclusion to occur.

Select the option that substitutes the underlined word correctly in the given line.
‘These are syllogisms that rely on premises being hypothetical……’