PROTOLOGIC KEY

Protagoras admits A at 349e4--in fact it is unclear whether he admits to Euler diagram 1 or 2. If 1, then he has admitted what other proposition?(Question #1) Let us assume 2.

B is admitted at 349e9.

Ba follows syllogistically. Assuming that Bravery and the Brave are equivalent terms, (a formal equivalence Socrates supplies grounds for at 332, for if foolish actions are done by folly then brave actions are done by bravery and we have the following syllogism. The brave are those who do brave actions. Brave actions are done by Bravery therefore the Brave etc.)complete the syllogism by supplying the missing premise that mediates between B & Ba(Question#2a). Under which formal construction of syllogism does this fall, 1,2,3 or 4(Question#2b)? Which of the A,E,I,O propositions does each proposition in the syllogism conform to and which terms are distributed or undistributed(Question#2c)?

C is admitted at 35Oal2; D at 35OB4 and at 35OB7 Protagoras characterizes all such men as .... ? State this in the form of a single proposition(Question #3).

Use the answer to question 3 as the minor premise of the syllogism whose conclusion is E constructing the major premise yourself and identifying the constructions (1,2,3 or 4)under which the syllogism falls, the kind of proposition each of the three is(A,E,I,O)and whether each term is distributed or undistributed.(Question 4)

Consider that Ba and E are the major and minor premises of a syllogism of the second construction, the conclusion is (Question 5).

A question for continued reflection: Consider the following argument: All the Brave are Confident.


No Confident men who are not Wise are Brave.


All the Brave are Wise.

Is it a syllogism? Could it be arrived at syllogistically? Is it valid? How do you know?

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