SYLLABUS: BLS LOGIC 1

I NATURE OF LOGIC
A) Traditional and Modern definitions of Logic
B) Basic features of Inductive and Deductive reasoning. Their uses in Law Courts
C) Some basic logical concepts –Form, Content, Truth , Validity, Inference, Implication.

II Terms
a) Meaning of Terms- Connotation and Denotation of terms- Positive and Negative terms, Contrary and Contradictory terms.
b) Distinctions between – Proposition and Sentence, Proposition and Judgment, Proposition and Fact, Constituent and Component.

III Proposition
a) Traditional classification of proposition into Categorical and Conditional four- fold classification.
b) Reduction of sentences to their logical forms.
c) Distribution of terms in A, E, I, O propositions.

IV Modern Classification of Propositions
a) Aim of Modern classification, kinds of Simple and Compound propositions and basic Truth Tables for Compound propositions.
b) General propositions in modern logic- Universal and Existential propositions.

V Comparative study of traditional and modern classification of
Propositions.
a) Distinction between the Traditional and Modern General propositions.
b) Meaning of prediction with special reference to the Copula.
c) Failure of Traditional classification of propositions.

VI Inference
a) Kinds of inference- Immediate and Mediate.
b) Opposition of proposition- Types of opposition- inference by opposition of propositions- opposition of Singular propositions.

VII Educations
a) Conversion and Obversion and other Immediate inferences.
b) Laws of Thought as applied to propositions.

VIII Definition
a) Its purpose- rules and fallacies as per Traditional Definition
b) Modern Definitions-kinds.

IX Definition and law
Precise definition with special reference to any specific definition- disablement, industry (Labour Law), Private and Public Nuisance (Laws of Torts), consent (Law of Contract), Medical- intervention, physician, terminally- ill, reference (basic concepts only from law books).

X Division
Logical division - rules and fallacies of division - division by dichotomy.

XI Induction
a) Simple Enumeration as a form of induction.
b) Analogy – characteristic of a good and bad analogy. Its use in law – circumstantial evidence.


Recommended readings:
1) Introduction to logic – K.T. Basantani. – Basic Text-Book
2) An introduction to logic – Irving Copi. (Ninth edition)
3) Modern introduction to logic – L .S. Stebbing.

Traditional classification of Propositions:

 Traditional classification of Propositions

Traditional logicians have divided propositions into singular and general.

Singular propositions have a single individual as a subject. This means, in a singular proposition, the subject is a singular individual thing and predicate is a class of individuals.
                                                                                  

General propositions have a group of individuals as a subject. This means, in a General proposition, we have a group of individuals as a subject as well as a group of individuals as a predicate.

The general propositions are of two types, universal and general.

When the general proposition says something about the entire group indicated in the subject, it is known as a universal proposition.

When the general proposition says something about a part of the group indicated in the subject, it is known as a particular proposition.

Both singular and general propositions are either affirmative or negative. When we are told that the subject has the quality indicated in the predicate, the proposition is said to be affirmative. When we are told that the subject does not have the quality indicated in the predicate, the proposition is said to be negative.

In case of affirmative propositions, in singular proposition, the quality indicated in the group stated in the predicate is applicable to the individual indicated in the subject, while in general proposition, it either is applicable to the entire group indicated by the subject, as in universal propositions, or to a part of the group indicated by the subject, as in particular propositions.

In case of negative propositions, in singular proposition, the quality indicated in the group stated in the predicate is not applicable to the individual indicated in the subject, while in general proposition, it is either not applicable to the entire group indicated by the subject, as in universal propositions, or not applicable to a part of the group indicated by the subject, as in particular propositions.

According to this, the general propositions are classified into four categories.

These are:

A = Universal affirmative

E = Universal negative

I = Particular affirmative

O = Particular negative

In the next post, we shall see the relationship between these four types of general proposition types.