Syllogisms and Visual Rhetoric Danna Prather

Syllogistic form puts an argument into three statements in order to illustrate the data, claim, and warrant, but uses special terms to designate these. Syllogistic form puts an argument into three statements in order to illustrate the data, claim, and warrant, but uses special terms to designate these.

Syllogistic Form- Categorical Syllogisms All history professors are poor lecturers (Major premise) All history professors are poor lecturers (Major premise) Dr. Fred is a history professor (Minor premise) Dr. Fred is a history professor (Minor premise) Dr. Fred is boring (Conclusion) Dr. Fred is boring (Conclusion) Major term: history professors Major term: history professors Middle term: poor lecturers Middle term: poor lecturers Minor term: Dr. Fred Minor term: Dr. Fred

The Categorical Syllogism - Tests 1. The middle term must be used in a universal sense in one of the premises. All people breath All people breath Rachel is a person Rachel is a person Rachel breathes Rachel breathes This example passes - why? This example passes - why?

The Categorical Syllogism – Tests 2. If a term is universal in the conclusion, it must be universal in the premises. All people with cars must take driving lessons All people with cars must take driving lessons Many college graduates have cars Many college graduates have cars All college graduates should take driving lessons All college graduates should take driving lessons This example fails – why? This example fails – why?

The Categorical Syllogism - Tests 3. At least one of the premises must be an affirmative statement. 3. At least one of the premises must be an affirmative statement. No Republicans vote Democrat No Republicans vote Democrat Matt is not a Republican Matt is not a Republican Matt votes democrat Matt votes democrat Fails – why? Fails – why?

The Categorical Syllogism - Tests 3. If one premise is negative, the conclusion must be negative. 3. If one premise is negative, the conclusion must be negative. No North Texans believe in the hollow earth No North Texans believe in the hollow earth Julie is a North Texan Julie is a North Texan Julie doesn’t believe in the hollow earth Julie doesn’t believe in the hollow earth Passes – why? Passes – why?

Syllogistic Form – Hypothetical Syllogism Major premise is concerned with an uncertain condition Major premise is concerned with an uncertain condition If a universal health care system is financed through income tax, it will win approval If a universal health care system is financed through income tax, it will win approval The proposed health care system is financed through an income tax The proposed health care system is financed through an income tax It will win approval It will win approval

The Hypothetical Syllogism- Tests 1. If the minor premise affirms the antecedent (the conditional clause), the conclusion must affirm the consequent. 1. If the minor premise affirms the antecedent (the conditional clause), the conclusion must affirm the consequent. If you run with scissors, you will cut yourself If you run with scissors, you will cut yourself You will run with scissors You will run with scissors You won’t cut yourself You won’t cut yourself Fails – why? Fails – why?

The Hypothetical Syllogism- Tests 2. If the minor premise denies the consequent, the conclusion must deny the antecedent. 2. If the minor premise denies the consequent, the conclusion must deny the antecedent. When I eat too much, I get sick When I eat too much, I get sick I didn’t get sick I didn’t get sick I didn’t eat too much I didn’t eat too much Passes – why? Passes – why?

The Disjunctive Syllogism The Major premise presents alternatives, usually indicated by an “either–or” or “neither—nor” The Major premise presents alternatives, usually indicated by an “either–or” or “neither—nor” Either you will go to class this afternoon or you will fail Either you will go to class this afternoon or you will fail You didn’t go to class You didn’t go to class You are going to fail You are going to fail

The Disjunctive Syllogism - Tests 1. If the Minor premise affirms (or denies) one of the alternatives, the conclusion must deny (or affirm) the other alternative 1. If the Minor premise affirms (or denies) one of the alternatives, the conclusion must deny (or affirm) the other alternative Either I have to get a part time job or I will have to quit school Either I have to get a part time job or I will have to quit school I didn’t get a part-time job I didn’t get a part-time job I will have to quit school I will have to quit school Passes – why? Passes – why?

The Disjunctive Syllogism – Tests 2. The alternatives presented in the first premise must be mutually exclusive. 2. The alternatives presented in the first premise must be mutually exclusive. Either we take our time or we will be unfair Either we take our time or we will be unfair We will take our time We will take our time We will not be unfair We will not be unfair Fails – why? Fails – why? Either we will take our time or we will be quick Either we will take our time or we will be quick We took our time We took our time We were not quick We were not quick Passes – why? Passes – why?

The Disjunctive Syllogism - Tests 3. The major premise must include all of the possible alternatives. 3. The major premise must include all of the possible alternatives. Jay does poor work so he must either be stupid or lazy Jay does poor work so he must either be stupid or lazy Jay is not stupid Jay is not stupid He must be lazy He must be lazy Fails – why? Fails – why?

Enthymemes and Visual Rhetoric Enthymeme - as we learned yesterday, an enthymeme is a rhetorical syllogism Enthymeme - as we learned yesterday, an enthymeme is a rhetorical syllogism An argument where part is implied. Invites audience participation. An argument where part is implied. Invites audience participation. “Santa Claus is coming” “Santa Claus is coming” Data for the unstated claim, You better be good Data for the unstated claim, You better be good “Everybody graduates sometime” “Everybody graduates sometime” Data for the unstated claim you will graduate also Data for the unstated claim you will graduate also

Importance of Cultural History for Visuals

Now and Then