How to Think #10: Baroco

The 10^th valid syllogism is called Baroco and in symbols it looks like this:

1. All P's are M's

2. Some S's are not M's

3. Therefore, some S's are not P's

In words a Baroco argument might come out like this:

1. All philosophers are intelligent

2. Some philosophy professors are not intelligent

3. Therefore, some philosophy professors are not philosophers

Any valid syllogism with true premises and correctly defined terms has a true conclusion and is important for that very reason. My favorite syllogisms, though, have a little sting in the tail. They put ideas together in a surprising way, in a way we might not have noticed without the syllogism's help.

All good people are honest

Some police officers are not honest

Therefore, some police officers are not good people

All immoral acts are unnecessary

Some violent acts are not unnecessary

Therefore, some violent acts are not immoral acts

On this last one we could have very long debates about what "unnecessary" means. :-)

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

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Good Cops and Bad Cops: "I Don't Want to Shoot You"

This was first posted at my old Good Cops and Bad Cops Blog on 23-May-2015.

On Thursday 16 April 2015 Police Officer Jesse Kidder of New Richmond, Ohio faced a potentially dangerous situation confronting a man already suspected of two murders on that same day. Kidder's body cam, given to him as a gift by a family member, allows us to see what happened, almost through his eyes.

On the video we can see the suspect getting out of his car and rushing back toward Kidder's car. Kidder then exits his vehicle, aims his gun at the suspect, and then retreats down the street to give himself some time and space and to avoid shooting.

Kidder can be heard saying, "Get your hands up," and "Stop right there," and "I don't want to shoot you," but the suspect keeps coming.

The suspect even escalates the tension by putting his hands in his pockets to make it appear his going to draw a weapon and shouting "Shoot me! Shoot me!" Kidder keeps his gun aimed but refuses to shoot saying, "No man I'm not gonna do it."

Near the end of the video, Kidder loses his footing and falls down and the suspect is almost on him and still Kidder holds his fire. Finally backup arrives and the suspect gives up, raising his hands and then laying face down on the street.

With about one year in his current job Kidder is new to the police but he is not new to stressful situations. He did two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine and earned a Purple Heart there.

After the incident Kidder said that he had tried to open a dialogue with the suspect and added "Law enforcement officers all across the nation deal with split-second decisions that mean life or death. I wanted to be absolutely sure before I used deadly force."

Kidder's boss, Chief Randy Harvey, said, "For him to make the judgment call he did show[s] great restraint and maturity."

It turned out the suspect had no weapon on him. Kidder had a good idea of this while the incident occurred. Even in the stress of the moment he noticed that the suspect's jacket pockets were not sagging which led him to believe there was no gun in either of those pockets.

Kidder did a great job and deserves great praise. He was observant, alert, and courageous. He helped capture a dangerous suspect without use of excessive force. Most of all he showed an admirable attitude – the desire to avoid deadly force unless absolutely necessary.

Thank you Jesse Kidder for giving an example of courageous and highly competent police work in under extremely stressful circumstances.

For more information click on the links below:

• http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/04/22/good-cop-or-good-example-of-white-privilege/
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/19/jesse-kidder-police-officer_n_7097618.html
• http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/19/us/ohio-new-richmond-officer-does-not-shoot-suspect/index.html
• http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2015/0420/Ohio-cop-s-refusal-to-shoot-a-model-of-police-restraint-video
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3045243/Rookie-cop-praised-NOT-firing-murder-suspect-charged-threatened-shoot-terrifying-confrontation-caught-bodycam.html

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

***

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5

How to Think #9: Dimatis

Our ninth valid syllogism is named Dimatis and looks like this in symbols:
1. Some P's are M's
2. All M's are S's
3. Therefore, some S's are P's

You might notice this is identical to Disamis except that the terms in the first premise – the major premise – are reversed.

After we finish an introductory look at each of the valid syllogisms we'll talk about some important logical theory and then we'll go through the syllogisms again grouping them into "families" and also identifying the specific types of questions or truth each syllogism is especially suited to answer or illuminate.

In words a Dimatis syllogism could look like this:

1. Some buildings are works of art
2. All works of art should be preserved
3. Therefore, some of the things that should be preserved are buildings

Here is how – believe it or not - a Dimatis might pop up in casual conversation:

The person you are with says "I never waste my time with popular novels."

So you say, [Line 1] "Surely you must agree that SOME popular novels have deep philosophical insights."
They say, with a superior chuckle, "Well! There are so many of them, propagating like weeds! I suppose SOME of them must have deep philosophical insights."
So you say, [Line 2] "I suppose you would agree that anything containing deep philosophical insights is worth some of your time?"
They say, a little hesitantly, "Well... I suppose... perhaps... ok."
And then you conclude - with a casual air - as if it is the most obvious thing in the world, "It would seem then, that IF some popular novels have deep philosophical insights, and IF anything containing deep philosophical insights is worth some of your time, THEN [Conclusion] some of the things that are worth some of your time are popular novels."

And there they are, poor soul - entangled in the tentacles of a Dimatis syllogism, without ever having known that such a thing existed.

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

***

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How to Think #8: Disamis

Now for our eighth valid syllogism. This one is called Disamis and in symbols it looks like this:

1. Some M's are P's

2. All M's are S's

3. Therefore, some S's are P's

If this one looks familiar there is a very good reason. It is exactly the same as Datisi except we have changed the first word of the first line from "All" to "Some" and the first word of the second line from "Some" to "All." The conclusion remains the same.

In words Disamis might come out like this:

1. Some police officers are criminals

2. All police officers get special treatment from prosecutors

3. Therefore, some people who get special treatment from prosecutors are criminals

Remember, syllogisms are intended to be true without doubt - if they are properly set up. Properly set up means: you use a valid syllogism, the premises are true, and the terms used in the syllogism have the same definition throughout.

So if you are making a syllogistic argument yourself make sure you set it up right. If your opponent makes a syllogistic argument and you disagree with the conclusion here is your line of attack: 1) check to see if the syllogism used is one of the valid forms, 2) check to see if the premises are true, 3) verify that the meanings of the terms used do not change from one line to the next.

If you find a mistake you may be able to refute your opponent's argument. If you can't find a mistake maybe you have found a new truth and will have to change your beliefs to accommodate it.

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

***

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The Goose Girl of Gottingen

As soon as I heard about her I had to meet her. The Ganseliesel, or Goose Girl of Gottingen, also known as "The Most Kissed Girl in the World," has stood in front of the medieval town hall since 1901.

Gottingen is a very famous college town as home to the great George August University, founded in 1734 by King George II of England who was also the Elector of Hanover, Germany, and has been associated with 47 Nobel laureates.

Famous geniuses who have made Gottingen home have included the mathematicians Gauss, Riemann, and Hilbert; three great physicists named Max: Born, Planck, and Von Laue; as well as the philosopher Schopenhauer and the statesman Bismarck.

I finally met the Goose Girl as the picture here proves.

A tradition has grown up in Gottingen where students earning Doctorates from the University celebrate by giving the Goose Girl flowers and then climbing up on her fountain to give her a kiss.

I met a man whose wife did this when she earned her M.D. Another friend told me he believes there was a real goose girl long ago who kind heartedly helped out destitute students with small sums of money and the modern tradition springs from this history or, perhaps, legend.

Technically, I believe it is now illegal to kiss the Goose Girl. But old college traditions are stronger than laws and the Goose Girl still gets her flowers... and her kisses. As you can see in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VImee6SOm3U

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

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When you go Germany to visit the Goose Girl bring this book along to find other wonderful sights as well!

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