ABSTRACT

The time has come to discuss in more detail what makes the study of logic and argument possible: the fact that MANY ARGUMENTS HAVE THE SAME LOGICAL FORM. For example, consider:

(1) Everyone who has a Rolls Royce is rich My Granny has a Rolls Royce __________ My Granny is rich

(2) All clowns are sad Bocadillo is a clown __________ Bocadillo is sad.

(3) Anything you buy from Happy Ed is a bad bargain I bought my van from Happy Ed __________ It was a bad bargain.

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If you are not language-blind (as some people are colour-blind) you will probably see that all these arguments have the same pattern: and it is one that makes all arguments which share it valid.

All A are B

x is A

__________

x is B

A in the Granny argument is 'Rolls Royce owner(s)'. What is A in the Happy Ed argument?

B in the Happy Ed argument is 'had bargain(s)'. What is B in the Granny argument?

Which is 'Bocadillo' in the Clown argument: A, B or x?