How to Think #1: BARBARA

Deductive arguments are one of the five major types of arguments. The other types of arguments are inductive, abductive, based on testimony, or based on authority. The three-line arguments called syllogisms are one of the major types of deduction. In this series of posts I will describe, and give examples of, the valid syllogisms.

I will also link to some great books you can read to learn more about how to think!

There is a valid syllogism called Barbara! It is called Barbara for theoretical reasons we will get to later. For now, this is how Barbara looks in symbols:

1. All M's are P's
2. All S's are M's
3. Therefore, All S's are P's.

This is a "valid" syllogism, meaning that, if the premises are true, then the conclusion MUST be true.

Replace the symbols with words and you could get something like this:

1. All mammals have four-chambered hearts
2. All squirrels are mammals
3. Therefore: All squirrels have four-chambered hearts.

These premises are true so this syllogism is both "valid" and "sound."

One more example of Barbara:

1. All Democrats are Liberals
2. All the people in Massachusetts are Democrats
3. Therefore, all the people in Massachusetts are Liberals.

Now this is Barbara so we know the syllogism is valid, but in this case both of the premises are false so the argument is not "sound." The conclusion might still be true, but it is not supported by the premises because they are NOT true.

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Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway