Review: Categorical Logic

Four categorical propositions Venn diagram

Rules for validity check

- Draw 2 circles at bottom, one on top

- Label 2 classes in conclusion at bottom
- Perform only two actions for 2 premises
- Check validity:
+ Action for conclusion already done: Valid
Stylistic variants + Action for conclusion not yet done: Invalid
All S are P: words of extremes, positive forms
No S are P: words of extremes, negative forms
Some S are P: more than one → nearly all, positive forms
Some S are not P: more than one → nearly all, negative forms
 Question 1
Almost all students who participate in Green Summer activities support the community.
Every person who support the community socialize well.
So, each participant in Green Summer activities is a good socializer.

Standardized argument:
Some participants (P) in Green Summer activities are the community
supporter (S).
All the community supporters (S) are good socializers (SO).
So, all participants (P) in Green Summer activities are good socializers
(SO) Venn diagram

Symbolic argument:

Some P are S
All S are SO
So, all P are SO
Conclusion: INVALID
 Question 2
Whoever takes the summer semester cannot take a long holiday.
Many long holiday makers cannot be staycationers.
So, if you take the summer semester, you are staycationers.

Standardized argument:
Venn diagram
No summer semester takers (T) are long holiday makers (M).
Some long holiday makers (M) are not staycationers (S).
So, all the summer semester takers (T) are staycationers (S).

Symbolic argument:

No T are M
Some M are not S
So, all T are S Conclusion: INVALID
 Question 3
Nearly all students want to learn face-to-face.
Most of those who want to learn face-to-face care about transportation.
So, all students care about transportation.

Standardized argument:
Venn diagram
Some students (S) are face-to-face learning wanters (W).
Some face-to-face learning wanters (W) are people who
care about transportation (P).
So, all students (S) are people who care about
transportation (P).

Symbolic argument:

Some S are W
Some W are P
So, all S are P Conclusion: INVALID
 Question 3
Nearly all students want to learn face-to-face.
Most of those who want to learn face-to-face care about transportation.
So, all students care about transportation.

Venn diagram
Standardized argument:

Some students(S) are people who want to become offline

learners (O)
Some offline learners (O) are transportation carers (P)
So, all students (S) are transportation carers (P)

Symbolic argument:

Some S are O
Some O are P
So, all S are P
Conclusion: Invalid
 Question 4
Create a categorical syllogism: 1) with both premises in the standard forms and the conclusion in the stylistic form, and 2) about the topic of fun/pain in learning Critical
Thinking. Then check its validity using Venn diagram.

Stylistic argument:
Almost all students who learn Critical Thinking are happy.
Some persons who are happy do not feel stressed.
So, the students who take the Critical Thinking class are not stressed.
Standardized argument:
Some Critical Thinking students (C) are happy persons (H)
Some happy pesons(H) are not stressed individuals (S)
So, some Critical Thinking students (C) are not stressed individuals (S)
Venn diagram

H
x
Symbolic argument: x
Some C are H
Some H are not S S
So, some C are not S C Conclusion: valid
 Question 4
Create a categorical syllogism: 1) with both premises in the standard forms and the conclusion in the stylistic form, and 2) about the topic of fun/pain in learning Critical
Thinking. Then check its validity using Venn diagram.

Stylistic argument: Venn diagram

All problems in critical thinking are problems which are interesting.

All interesting problems are problems filled with difficulty.
So, problems in critical thinking are always difficult.

Standardized argument:
All problems in critical thinking (C) are problems which
are interesting (I).
All interesting problems (I) are problems filled with
difficulty (D).
So, all problems in critical thinking (C) are difficult
problems (D).
Symbolic argument:
All C are I. Conclusion: Valid
All I are D
So, All C are D
 Question 5
Create a categorical syllogism 1) with the premises containing No & Some and the conclusion containing All, 2) all three statements must be the stylistic variants, and 3)
about the topic of entertainment in your student life. Then standardize it and check its validity using Venn diagram.

Stylistic argument: None of the people who was astral from time immemorial can follow the
truth of the world. Some people who was consistency at some point in history was told to
have not reached the truth. Therefore, consistency people who have not reached the truth
become the astral people certainly.

Standardized argument: No astral people (A) are the truth followers (T). Some truth chasers
(T) are consistency people (C). All consistency people (C) are the certain astral people (A).
Venn diagram

Symbolic argument:
No A are T
Some T are C
All C are A

Conclusion: Invalid
 Question 5
Create a categorical syllogism 1) with the premises containing No & Some and the conclusion containing All, 2) all three statements must be the stylistic variants, and 3)
about the topic of entertainment in your student life. Then standardize it and check its validity using Venn diagram.

Stylistic argument:

Nearly all stressed students have a part-time job.

Lofi music listeners are not stressed students.
So, all stressed students who listen to lofi music are part-time employees. Venn diagram

Standardized argument:

Some stressed students (S) are part-time employees. (E).

No lofi music listeners (L) are stressed students (S).
So, all lofi music listeners (L) are part-time employees (E).

Symbolic argument:
Some S are E.
No L are S.
So, all L are E. Conclusion: invalid
 Chapter 10

Propositional Logic
A simple language useful for showing key ideas and definitions

10
 Review: Proposition
• The term proposition is sometimes used synonymously
with statement:
- As a simple unit, it expresses a complete idea which
can be evaluated as true or false.
Example: HCM International University is a public university.

- As a more complex unit, it combines several

statements which can be evaluated as true or false.

Example: HCM International University is a public university and

RMIT is a public university.
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 Contents
Four types of propositions

1. Conjunction
2. Negation
3. Disjunction
4. Conditional statements

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 Symbolic connectives

Statements are combined by connectives:

&/ and Conjunction

˜/ not Negation

 or Disjunction

 if
Implication/conditional

13
 Variables and examples of PL statements
Variables: Propositional symbols assigned to different
parts of the argument.

P&Q It is hot and it is humid.

Example:
P & ~Q It is hot but it’s not humid.
P: It is hot.
Q: It is humid. QP If it is humid, then it is hot.
R: It is raining.
PvQ It is hot or it is humid.

(P& Q)  R If it is hot and humid, then it is

raining.
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 1. CONJUNCTION (&/and)
• A statement can be regarded as true or false (truth
values).
• A simple statement: a simple sentence regarded as true
or false.
Example: IU is a university.
• A compound statement: two or more statements
regarded as true or false.
Example: Summer is hot and winter is cold.
It is hot and humid.
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 1. CONJUNCTION – Truth table
Summer is hot and winter is cold.
p q
p q p&q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F F

Note: ‘and’ can be replaced with but, yet, while,

whereas, although, though, however
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Truth table for two variables Truth table for three variables

p q A B C
T T T T T
T F T T F
T F T
F T
T F F
F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F

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 EXERCISE

Without knowing what they represent, assume that:

- p, q, r are true
- w, x, y are false
Determine whether each of the following is true or false.

1. p & q 2. p & w
3. x & y 4. r & q
5. r & y 6. y & w
7. x & w 8. q & r
9. p & y 10. r & p
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 1. Conjunction and validity
Rule of validity:
- In a valid argument, it is impossible for all the
premises to be true and the conclusion false.
- If any instance of all true premises is followed by a
false conclusion - an F under the conclusion column -
the argument is invalid.
p q p&q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F F 19
 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity
The sky is blue. (p)
The grass is green. (q)
Therefore, the sky is blue and the grass is green.

p q p&q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F F

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 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity

The sky is blue (p).

The grass is green (q).
Therefore, the sky is blue and the grass is green.

Symbolic argument:
p* q* p&q C
p
q____ T T T
So, p & q T F F
F T F
F F
F

* The argument is valid. 21

 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity
The grass is green (p).
Therefore, the grass is green (p) and the sky is blue (q).

Symbolic argument:

p p* q p&q C
p&q T T T
T F F
F T F
F F
F
* The argument is invalid.
22
 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity
Tom is short and fat.
Therefore, Tom is short.

Symbolic argument:

p&q pC q p&q*
p T T T
T F F
F T F
F F
F

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 1. CONJUNCTION – Validity
Tom is short and fat.
Therefore, Tom is short.
p q p&q*
pC
Symbolic argument:

p&q T T T T
p T F F T
F T F F
F F F
F

Let’sThe argument
repeat is valid.
the p column in the right.
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 Exercise – Testing validity

- p&q
.
. .q

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 CONJUNCTION – Testing validity
- p&q
.
. .q

p q p&q*
qC
T T T T
T F F F
F T F T
F F F
The argument
F is valid. 26
 2. NEGATION
• The use of not to deny a proposition.

Example:

- Tina is tall. (p)

- Tina is not tall. ( ˜p)

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 2. NEGATION

p q ˜p ˜q

T T F F
T F F T
F T T F
F F T T

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 NEGATION: Testing validity
Tina is not tall, but Sarah is tall. So, Tina is not tall.
Symbolic argument: ˜p & q
˜p

p q ˜p ˜p&q*
˜p C
T T F F
F
T F F F
F
F T
The argument is valid.
T T
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 2. NEGATION: Testing validity (2)
Frank does not drive a truck.
So, Frank does not drive a truck, and Vinny does not drive a van.
Symbolic argument: ˜p
. ˜q
˜p &

p q ˜p* ˜q ˜p&
˜qC

T T F F F
T F F T F
Invalid
F T T F F 30
 3. DISJUNCTION
Two or more statements set apart, usually by the word or.
Example:
- Frank is angry or Hank is tired. (p v q)
- For propositional logic, or has non-exclusive sense.
This means the statement is true if either Frank is angry
or Hank is tired.
p q pvq
T T T
T F T
F T T
F F F 31
 3. DISJUNCTION – truth table
– Frank is angry or Hank is tired.
– So, Frank is angry.

Symbolic form and the truth table:

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 DISJUNCTION and NEGATION – truth table
– Frank is not angry or Hank is tired.

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 DISJUNCTION and NEGATION – truth table

– Frank is not angry or Hank is not tired.

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 DISJUNCTION and NEGATION – truth table

It’s not the case that Frank is angry or Hank is tired.

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 CONJUNCTION, NEGATION & DISJUNCTION
It’s not the case that Frank is angry or Hank is tired.
So, Frank is not angry and Hank is not tired.
Symbolic argument:

Let’s set up the truth table:

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 CONJUNCTION, NEGATION & DISJUNCTION
It’s not the case that Frank is angry or Hank is tired.
So, Frank is not angry and Hank is not tired.

Symbolic argument form:

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 CONJUNCTION, NEGATION & DISJUNCTION
Consider an argument with three variables that involves
disjunction, negation, and conjunction:

Frank is angry or Hank is tired.

It’s not the case that Hank is tired and Larry is lonely.
So, Hank is tired.

Symbolic argument:

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 CONJUNCTION, NEGATION & DISJUNCTION

Frank is angry or Hank is tired.

It’s not the case that Hank is tired and Larry is lonely.
So, Hank is tired.

Invalid

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 4. CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS
• If-then statements consisting of 2 parts:
antecedent and consequent.

Example:
– If it rained, then the ground is wet. (p  q)
p q pq

T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T
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 4. CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS

If it rained, then the ground is wet.

It rained.
So, the ground is wet.
Symbolic argument:

Truth table:

Valid

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Summary of conjunction (p & q), negation ~(p&q),
disjunction (p v q) and conditional statement (pq)

p q ~p ~q p&q ~(p&q) pvq p q

T T F F T F T T

T F F T F T T F

F T T F F T T T

F F T T F T F T

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 PRACTICE

Convert each statement into symbolic form

and generate its truth table.

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 1. The summer is going on but we cannot enjoy it.

Let: Symbolic form:

S: summer is going on S & ~E

E: we can enjoy it S E

T T

T F

F T

F F
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 1. Summer is going on but we cannot enjoy it.

Let: Symbolic form:

S & ~E
S: summer is going on
E: we can enjoy it S E E
~
S & ~E

T T F F

T F T T

F T F F

F F T F
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2. If you want a good score but you don’t make efforts, your want
is just wishful thinking.

Let: Symbolic form:

G: you want a good score
E: you make efforts
G & ˜E  W
W: your want is just wishful thinking
G E W
T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F 46
2. If you want a good score but you don’t make efforts, your want
is just wishful thinking.

Let: Symbolic form:

G: you want a good score
G & ˜E  W
E: you make efforts
W: your want is just wishful thinking
G E W ˜E G & ˜E G & ˜E  W
T T T F F T
T T F F F T
T F T T T T
T F F T T F
F T T F F T
F T F F F T
F F T T F T
F F F T F T 47
3. If we don’t revise the lesson contents, we will fail the midterm exam and our
course scores will be low.

Let:
R: we revise the lesson contents Symbolic form:
F: we will fail the midterm exam ˜R  F & S

S: our course scores will be low

R F S
T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F
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3. If we don’t revise the lesson contents, we will fail the midterm exam and our
course scores will be low.

Let:
R: we revise the lesson contents Symbolic form:
F: we will fail the midterm exam ˜R  F & S

S: our course scores will be low

R F S ˜R F&S ˜R  F & S

T T T F T T
T T F F F T
T F T F F T
T F F F F T
F T T T T T
F T F T F F
F F T T F F
F F F T F F

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Exercise 4: Test validity of the argument

50
4A. If the pandemic doesn’t end soon or we will study online next semester, life
is not fun for us at all. The pandemic does not end soon but we will not study
online next semester. So, life is fun for us.
Let:
Symbolic argument:
E: the pandemic ends
˜E v S  ˜F
S: we study online next semester
˜E & ˜S
F: life is fun for us
So, F
E S F
T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
F F T
F F F

In/valid 51
4A. If the pandemic doesn’t end soon or we will study online next semester, life
is not fun for us at all. The pandemic does not end soon but we will not study
online next semester. So, life is fun for us.
Let:
Symbolic argument:
E: the pandemic ends
˜E v S  ˜F
S: we study online next semester
˜E & ˜S
F: life is fun for us
So, F
E S F ˜E ˜S ˜F ˜EvS ˜EvS ˜F* ˜E&˜S* FC

T T T F F F T F F T
T T F F F T T T F F
T F T F T F F T F T
T F F F T T F T F F
F T T T F F T F F T
F T F T F T T T F F
F F T T T F T F T T
F F F T T T T T T F

Invalid 52
 4B. If our teacher checks attendance, no-show students will be recorded and they
will be prohibited from the exam. Our teacher doesn’t check attendance, so no-show
students will still take the exam.

T = teacher checks attendance Symbolic argument:

R = no-show students will be recorded TR&P
P = no-show students will be prohibited
~T
So, ~P
T R P

T T T
T T F
T F T
T F F
F T T
F T F
Invalid
F F T
F F F
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 4B. If our teacher checks attendance, no-show students will be recorded and they
will be prohibited from the exam. Our teacher doesn’t check attendance, so no-show
students will still take the exam.

T = teacher checks attendance

Symbolic argument:
R = no-show students will be recorded TR&P
P = no-show students will be prohibited ~T
So, ~P
T R P ~T* ~PC R&P T  R & P*

T T T F F T T
T T F F T F F
T F T F F F F
T F F F T F F
F T T T F T T Invalid
F T F T T F T
F F T T F F T
F F F T T F T 54
4C. My girlfriend's phone at work is busy. My best friend's phone is also busy. If they are talking
to each other, then both phones are busy. So, my girlfriend and my best friend are talking to each
other over the phone.
Symbolic argument:
G = My girlfriend’s phone at work is busy G
B = My best friend’s phone at work is busy B
T = My girlfriend & best friend talk to each other TG&B
So, T

G* B* T
T T T

T T F

T F T Invalid
T F F

F T T

F T F

F F T

F F F

55
4C. My girlfriend's phone at work is busy. My best friend's phone is also busy. If they are talking
to each other, then both phones are busy. So, my girlfriend and my best friend are talking to each
other over the phone.
Symbolic argument:
G = My girlfriend’s phone at work is busy G
B = My best friend’s phone at work is busy B
T = My girlfriend & best friend talk to each other TG&B
So, T

G* B* T G&B T  G & B* TC

T T T T T T

T T F T T F
Invalid
T F T F F T

T F F F T F

F T T F F T

F T F F T F

F F T F F T

F F F F T F

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4D. If Group A doesn’t do the assignment, Group B doesn’t do it, either. If these
groups don’t do it, other groups will get the bonus points. So, if neither of these
groups do the assignment, other groups will get the bonus points.
Symbolic argument:
A = Group A does the assignment
B = Group B does the assignment ~A  ~B
G = other groups get the bonus points
~A & ~B  G
So, ~A v ~B  G
A B G
T T T

T T F

T F T

T F F

F T T

F T F

F F T

F F F

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4D. If Group A doesn’t do the assignment, Group B doesn’t do it, either. If these
groups don’t do it, other groups will get the bonus points. So, if neither of these
groups do the assignment, other groups will get the bonus points.
Symbolic argument:
A = Group A does the assignment
B = Group B does the assignment ~A  ~B
G = other groups get the bonus points
~A & ~B  G
So, ~A v ~B  G
A B G ~A ~B ~A  ~B* ~A & ~B ~ A & ~ B  G* ~Av ~ B ~ A v ~ B  GC

T T T F F T F T F T

T T F F F T F F F T

T F T F T T F T T T

T F F F T T F T T F

F T T T F F F T T T

F T F T F F F T T F

F F T T T T T T T T

F F F T F F F T T T

Invalid 58
 Review
1. Propositions/arguments with 2 variables: a true table of 4 lines
2. Propositions/arguments with 3 variables: a true table of 8 lines
3. For propositions, only set up the truth table.

4. For arguments, check validity:

- ONLY check the lines where all premise values are true, then look for
the conclusion values
- If all conclusion values are true: valid
- If at least one conclusion value is false: invalid

Note: Check the lines top down: True -> go on; False -> stop
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 ASSIGNMENT

Instructions:
- The question “Who’s the thief?” is optional. Your weekly assignment includes
5 tasks that follow.
- Delete all the lesson slides and keep only the Assignment slides to resubmit.

Links to submit:

Group 3: https://forms.gle/Kte75v7MoxEcSfgw7

Group 4: https://forms.gle/YfgyHGATQw1FiUFe6
Names of your group
 OPTIONAL QUESTION

Who’s the thief?

A theft was committed by one of the 9 people (called One to
Nine) but the police don’t know who did it. Here are their
answers when questioned:
– One: Five is the thief.
– Two: No, it’s not true!
– Three: I did it.
– Four: Either Three or Eight is the thief.
– Five: Two said the wrong thing!
– Six: Three is the thief.
– Seven: No, Three is not the thief.
– Eight: I’m not the thief, and Three is not, either.
– Nine: What Eight says is correct, but Five is not the thief, either.

If only 3 out of 9 statements are true, who could be the thief?

62
Task 1: Don’t recycle the old exercises (R). If we recycle the old exercises (R), we
may lessen our workload (L) but our teacher will know about it (K). It’s not the case
that our teacher knows about it but we can recycle the old exercises.

Let: Symbolic argument:

Truth table Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Invalid
Task 2: If our teacher gives us challenging tasks (T), we’ll make an excuse of the
summer holiday to ignore them (I) or we can submit them unfinished (U). We can
submit the tasks unfinished but we can’t ignore them. So, we can’t submit the tasks
unfinished.
Let: Symbolic argument:

Truth table Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Conclusion:
Task 3: We do group assignments carefully and we do textbook exercises. If we do
group assignments carefully or we do textbook exercises, we’ll be well prepared for the
mid-term exam. So, we’ll get ready for the mid-term exam if we do them both.

Let Symbolic argument

Truth table Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Conclusion
Task 4: Create a propositional argument about the topic of wishes for the mid-term exam with three variables, including a disjunction, a double negation and a conditional statement, then turn it into the symbolic argument and evaluate its validity.

Your argument
Truth table

Symbolic argument Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Conclusion
 Task 5: Create a propositional argument about the topic of how you enjoy life after the summer semester with three variables including at least conjunction, disjunction, a negation, and a conditional statement, then turn it into the symbolic argument and
evaluate its validity using the truth table.

Your argument

Truth table
Let
Add/Delete columns to suit your argument.

Symbolic argument

Conclusion:
Thank you 

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