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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