Dillemas

Question 1

What is a Dilemma?

Answer 1

The fourth type of complex syllogism.

Question 2

What are the two forms of classification with Dilemmas?

Answer 2

Their Quantity (are they simple or complex) and their Quality (are they constructive or destructive).

Question 3

What are the four forms of Dilemmas?

Answer 3

Simple constructive
Simple destructive
Complex constructive
Complex destructive

Question 4

What is a Simple Constructive Dilemma?

Answer 4

A type of Dilemma in which both antecedents of the major premise are affirmed by the minor premise, and both conjuncts of the major premise are the same.

Question 5

What is the form of a Simple Constructive Dilemma?

Answer 5

If P then Q; and if R, then Q
Either P or R
Therefore, Q

Question 6

What is a Simple Destructive Dilemma?

Answer 6

A type of Dilemma in which both consequents of the major premise are denied in the minor premise, and the antecedents in both conjuncts of the major premise are the same.

Question 7

What is the form of a Simple Destructive Dilemma?

Answer 7

If P, then Q; and if P, then R
Either not Q or not R
Therefore, not P

Question 8

What is a Complex Constructive Dilemma?

Answer 8

A type of Dilemma in which both antecedents of the major premise are affirmed by the minor premise, and both conjuncts of the major premise are different.

Question 9

What is the form of a Complex Constructive Dilemma?

Answer 9

If P, then Q; and if R, then S
Either P or R
Therefore, either Q or S

Question 10

What is a Complex Destructive Dilemma?

Answer 10

A type of Dilemma in which both consequents of the major premise are denied in the minor premise.

Question 11

What is the form of a Complex Destructive Dilemma?

Answer 11

If P, then Q; and if R, then S
Either not Q or not S
Therefore, not P or not R

Question 12

What is the 1st Rule of Dilemmas?

Answer 12

The consequents in the major premise must follow legitimately from the antecedents.

Question 13

What is the 2nd Rule of Dilemmas?

Answer 13

The disjunction in the minor premise must be complete (and there can not be a third possibility).

Question 14

What is the 3rd Rule of Dilemmas?

Answer 14

The conclusion must be exclusive (it must be the only thing that can be inferred from the premises).

Question 15

What are the three ways of refuting a Dilemma?

Answer 15

‘Grasping it by the horns,’ ‘Escaping between the horns,’ and making a Counter-Dilemma.

Question 16

What is ‘Grasping the Horns’ of a Dilemma?

Answer 16

The first way of refuting, in this you question the truth f the conditional statements in the major premise. This works only for Dilemmas that violate Rule #1.

Question 17

What is ‘Escaping between the Horns’ of a Dilemma?

Answer 17

The second way of refuting, in this you propose a third alternative, avoiding the current conclusion. This only works for Dilemmas that violate Rule #2.

Question 18

What is a Counter-Dilemma?

Answer 18

A form of refutation in which you rearrange the propositions to make a counter-argument. This only works for Dilemmas that violate Rule #3.

Question 19

What are the Counter-Dilemma procedures?

Answer 19

There are two procedures, one for constructive and one for destructive Dilemmas.

Question 20

What is the First Procedure of Counter-Dilemmas?

Answer 20

If the Dilemma is constructive, then the consequents of the major premise are to be switched and negated.

If P, then Q; and if R, then S
Either P or R
Therefore, either Q or S

->

If P, then not S; and if R, then not Q
Either P or R
Therefore, either not S or not Q

Question 21

What is the Second Procedure of Counter-Dilemmas?

Answer 21

If the Dilemma is destructive, then the antecedents of the major premise are switched and negated.

If P, then Q; and if R, then S
Either not Q or not S
Therefore, either not P or not R

->

If not R, then Q; and if not P, then S
Either not Q or not S
Therefore, either R or P