Hypothetical Syllogism
In a Hypothetical Syllogism, both the premises and the conclusion are conditional statements. The antecedent of one premise must match the consequent of the other for the conditional to be valid. The structure of Hypothetical Syllogism can be expressed as follows.
- If A, then B.
- If B, then C.
- Therefore, If A, then C.
In a simple language, we can present the argument as follows,
- If I want a government job, I must pass the examination.
- If I need to pass the examination, I must study.
- Therefore, if I want a government job, I must study.
However, the relationship flows in one direction only, and the opposite is not a valid argument. Hence, the following argument is not valid.
- If not A, then not B.
- If not B, then not C.
- Therefore, If not C, then not A.
Hence, the following argument shall be invalid.
- If I don’t want a government job, then I don’t have to pass the examination.
- If I don’t have to pass the examination, I don’t have to study.
- Therefore, if I don’t want a government job, I don’t have to study.
The argument is invalid because even if you don’t want a government job, you still have to study to get a private job or to acquire new knowledge and skills. However, still not many people can accept the argument. However, let us modify the argument a little bit to make it more convincing.
- If I don’t want a job, then I don’t have to pass the examination.
- If I don’t have to pass the examination, I don’t have to study.
- Therefore, if I don’t want a job, I don’t have to study.
This argument looks more convincing since most people suffer the pain of studying so that they can get a job. Very few people study to acquire new knowledge or skills or because they enjoy learning. Hence, a good number of people may accept this argument, though it is an invalid argument.
