Gensler's Star Test fails to evaluate certain syllogisms correctly.
the verdict
INSUFFICIENT LEANING
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
2 sources for · 0 against
AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
The evidence outlines Gensler's star test procedure for categorical syllogisms and notes a specific query where an invalid argument structure satisfies the test's conditions, but the sources only partially cover potential evaluation issues.
# A simplified decision procedure for categorical syllogisms.
Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic. Published: 1973-10-01. 1 citation.
## Authors
- Harry J. Gensler: h-index 10; 315 citations; corresponding author
## Topics
- Semantic Web and Ontologies
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# A SIMPLIFIED DECISION PROCEDURE FOR CATEGORICAL SYLLOGISMS
## Abstract
In this article I would like to (1) present a simplified decision procedure (the "star-test") for categorical syllogisms, (2) prove the equivalence of this procedure with a more traditional set of rules, (3) present an extended form of the star-test in a simple syllogistic calculus, (4) show how the procedure may be used to derive syllogistic conclusions, (5) present a generalized version of the extended star-test, and ( 6 ) sketch a parallel inferential proof-procedure. 1 To test a categorical syllogism (on the modern interpretation): if you asterisk just the distributed terms in the premises and the undistributed terms in the conclusion, then the syllogism is valid if and only if every term is asterisked exactly once and there is exactly one right hand asterisk. Let me give a couple of examples: no P* is F* some C is F :. some C* is not P is valid;
# Invalid syllogism passes Gensler's star test. Why?
Tags: logic
- Score: 2
- Views: 223
- Answers: 1
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: michaelgill1969 (33 rep)
- Asked: 2018-06-18
- Edited: 2018-06-18
- Site: math
## Question
According to Gensler (2017):
An instance of a letter is distributed in a wff if it occurs just after “all” or anywhere after “no” or “not.” (p. 0008)
He then defines the star test as follows:
Star premise letters that are distributed and conclusion letters that aren’t distributed. Then the syllogism is valid if and only if every capital letter is starred exactly once and there is exactly one star on the right-hand side. (p. 0009)
Now, in the 2.2a Exercise, the third problem is as follows:
no Y* is E*
all G* is Y
∴ no Y is E
(p. 0011)
I have made distributed letters bold and starred where appropriate (or so I think; it is late). According to the "Answers to Selected Problems" (Gensler, 2017):
This isn’t a syllogism, because “Y” occurs three times and “G” occurs only once. (p. 0378)
This seems obvious. However, every capital letter is starred exactly once and there is exactly one star on the right-hand side. What am I missing?
Reference:
Ge
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