Correct option is D
Correct answer: d Commits the fallacy of illicit minor
Introduction: In a categorical syllogism, a term is considered "distributed" if the proposition says something about every member of that class; a term must not be distributed in the conclusion unless it was first distributed in the premises.
Information Booster: ·
Identifying the Minor Term: The minor term is the subject of the conclusion, which is
"Snakes".
·
Checking Distribution in the Conclusion: The conclusion is a Universal Negative (E proposition): "No
Snakes (S) are
beings that bite (P)." In an E proposition,
both the subject and the predicate are distributed. Therefore, "Snakes" is
distributed in the conclusion.
·
Checking Distribution in the Premise: The minor premise is "Some
snakes (S) are
friendly (M)." This is a Particular Affirmative (I proposition). In an I proposition,
neither the subject nor the predicate is distributed. Thus, "snakes" is
undistributed in the premise.
·
The Fallacy: Because the minor term ("Snakes") is distributed in the conclusion but was undistributed in the minor premise, the argument commits the
Fallacy of Illicit Minor.
Additional Knowledge: ·
It is a valid syllogism:
· This is incorrect because the argument violates the formal rule of distribution, making it logically invalid.
·
Commits the fallacy of illicit major:
· The major term is the predicate of the conclusion, which is
"beings that bite". In the major premise ("No friendly beings bite" — E proposition), the predicate "beings that bite" is
distributed. Since it is distributed in both the premise and the conclusion, there is no violation regarding the major term.
·
Commits the fallacy of four terms:
· This fallacy occurs when there are more than three distinct terms in a syllogism. Here, there are exactly three terms: "Snakes", "friendly beings", and "beings that bite". Thus, no fallacy of four terms is committed.
