Question:
What is the formal fallacy committed in the following syllogistic argument?
No Students are tested Covid-positive.
Some Covid-positive cases are not Professors.
Therefore, Some Professors are not Students.
What is the formal fallacy committed in the following syllogistic argument?
No Students are tested Covid-positive.
Some Covid-positive cases are not Professors.
Therefore, Some Professors are not Students.
No Students are tested Covid-positive.
Some Covid-positive cases are not Professors.
Therefore, Some Professors are not Students.
Show Hint
If both premises are negative (E or O), the syllogism commits the {Fallacy of Exclusive Premises} because no valid conclusion can be drawn.
Updated On: Dec 24, 2025
- Fallacy of Exclusive Premises
- Fallacy of Illicit Major
- Fallacy of Illicit Minor
- Fallacy of Excluded Middle
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Translate each statement into A/E/I/O form.
1) No Students are tested Covid-positive.
Form: No S are P \(\Rightarrow\) E proposition.
2) Some Covid-positive cases are not Professors.
Form: Some P are not M \(\Rightarrow\) O proposition (particular negative).
3) Therefore, Some Professors are not Students.
Form: Some M are not S \(\Rightarrow\) O proposition.
Step 2: Identify the issue with the premises.
A valid categorical syllogism cannot have two negative premises.
Here, the first premise is negative (E-type), and the second premise is also negative (O-type).
When both premises are negative, they do not establish a link between the middle term and the other term that can support the conclusion.
Step 3: Name the fallacy.
The error of having two negative premises is called the Fallacy of Exclusive Premises.
Final Answer: (A) Fallacy of Exclusive Premises
1) No Students are tested Covid-positive.
Form: No S are P \(\Rightarrow\) E proposition.
2) Some Covid-positive cases are not Professors.
Form: Some P are not M \(\Rightarrow\) O proposition (particular negative).
3) Therefore, Some Professors are not Students.
Form: Some M are not S \(\Rightarrow\) O proposition.
Step 2: Identify the issue with the premises.
A valid categorical syllogism cannot have two negative premises.
Here, the first premise is negative (E-type), and the second premise is also negative (O-type).
When both premises are negative, they do not establish a link between the middle term and the other term that can support the conclusion.
Step 3: Name the fallacy.
The error of having two negative premises is called the Fallacy of Exclusive Premises.
Final Answer: (A) Fallacy of Exclusive Premises
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