<yawn> been a long day
If this is supposed to be a syllogism, I'm afraid it certainly
is not of any form I can locate, though admittedly my materials and
formal training are limited.
All the syllogisms which seem to be taught require standard form
categorical propositions as the premises and conclusion.
All S are P.
Some S are P.
No S is P.
Some is not P.
Etc.
In other words, a subject and a, as in one, predicate.
Here's Jerry's first "premise":
Major Premise: "All total situations, the constituent elements of
which are factual are total situations which are true."
Plucking out subjects and predicates and substituting variable letters
we get:
Major premise: All S the parts of which are P1 are S which are P2.
Sorry, but this is NOT a standard form categorical proposition.
I'm not quite sure what it is.
It seems to be saying: All S which are comprised of facts, are S
which are true. But we still have no categorical statements to work
with, but we can "rescue" the proposition by considering each phrase one
proposition and constructing a Modus ponens; If A then B; A: therefore,
B.
A = S which are sets of facts
B = S which are true
IF S are sets of facts THEN S are true; S is a set of facts: THEREFORE S
is true.
--->Which seems to make the stunning observation that facts are true.
But at least THAT is a categorical proposition.
Jerry's "minor premise":
Minor Premise: "The total situation described by my obligation is a
total situation the constituent elements of which are factual."
Letting S continue to = "total situation"
And P1 continue to = those "factual" things, i.e., facts
Minor Premise: The S which is P3 is an S of which the P4 are P1.
So since the P4 are P1, we can substitute,
The S which is P3 is an S which is P1.
Which looks to be merely definitional.
P3 = " my obligation "
P1 = facts
Substituting back in;
The S which is my obligations an S which is factual.
S which are factual are true (from the "first premise")
Therefore my obligation is true (???)
--->Whatever THAT is supposed to mean.
Jerry's "conclusion":
"The total situation described by my obligation is a
total situation which is true."
The S which is P3 is an S which is true.
HEY lookit there!!
Jerry gets to the same conclusion! His obligation, which I
believe was to prove the inspiration of the Bible is "true".
Impossible, but nonetheless a true obligation which he
voluntarily assumed.
Now, if this is not what he set out to prove, he needs to
undertake a severe overhaul of his "Argument".
I would suggest a text book on logic and practicing writing
categorical propositions.
Ciao.
-- Michael Fisher, ET1/SS USN ret., law student* * * He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. Thomas Paine
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