MOODS AND FIGURES:

There are four (4) figure and each is defined by the position of the middle term
either as subject or predicate in the syllogism.
1st Figure: sub-prae (subject- predicate)
2nd Figure:
pre-prae (predicate- predicate)
3rd Figure: sub-sub
(subject- subject )
4th Figure: prae-sub (predicate-subject)
Take Note:
Four Categorical Propositions:
A
Universal AFFIRMATIVE
E
Universal NEGATIVE
I
Particular AFFIRMATIVE
O
Particular NEGATIVE
a, e, i, o,

All S are P
No S are P
Some S are P
Some S are not P

- stands for the four categorical propositions and they combine with the
terms M S P, to denote the quantity of the subject term of proposition.
For example: Ma means that the Middle Term is used as subject of A
proposition.

u, p

- stands respectively for universal and particular combine with the

symbols for terms to indicate the quantity of the predicate
For example: Pp means that the Major Term is particular predicate.

(+) sign

- stands for affirmative copula

(-) sign

- negative copula

Parts of Arguments:
M Middle Term
P Major Term
S Minor Term

Moods of the SECORD FIGURE:

The Second Figure presents the Middle Term (M) as predicate of both premises
(Predicate predicate)
P M
S M
S P

(Prae prae) Predicate - predicate

Rules:
1. One premise must be negative
2. The major premise must be universal
Rule 1: Since the Middle Term is predicate of both premises (Major and Minor), it
becomes necessary that one of the premises should be negative, precisely, to
establish the middle term as universal at least once. Otherwise, the fallacy of
undistributed middle is committed.
Rule 2. Since one of the premises is negative, the conclusion will also be negative.
In order to avoid the fallacy of illicit major, in the major premise the subject-term
which is the major term must be universal.
The valid moods for the Second Figure are:
Proposit
ion
EAE
AEE
EIO
AOO

Mnemonic
cEsArE
cAmEstrEs
fEstInO
bArOcO

1. CESARE (EAE)
Pe - Mu
Sa + Mp
Premise
Se - Pu

e, u Universal Negative in Major Premise

a, p Particular predicate in Universal Affirmative in Minor
e, u Universal Negative

Example:
No triangle is four-sided (Middle Term
prae)
But all squares are four-sided (Middle
Term prae)
Therefore, No square is triangle

E Universal Negative (No) in Major

Term
A Universal Affirmative (All) in Minor
Term
E Universal Negative (No)

*The Middle Term four-sided as predicate in the Major premise (prae)

2

The Middle Term four-sided as predicate in the Minor premise (prae)

2. CAMESTRES (AEE)
Pa + Mp
Se - Mu
Se - Pu

a,p Universal Affirmative in Major Premise

e, u Universal Negative in Minor Premise
e, u Universal Negative -Conclusion

Example:
Every immoral act is condemnable (Middle A Universal Affirmative (Every) in
Term prae)
Major Term
But no kindness is condemnable (Middle E Universal Negative (No) in Minor
Term-prae)
Term
Therefore, No kindness is an immoral act
E Universal Negative (No.)
*The Middle Term condemnable as predicate in the Major premise (prae)
The Middle Term condemnable as predicate in the Minor premise (prae)
3. FESTINO (EIO)
Pe - Mu
Si + Mp
So - Pu
Example:
No law-abiding citizen is a criminals (Middle
Term prae)
But some adults are criminals (Middle Term
prae)
Therefore, some adults are not law-abiding
citizens

E Universal Negative (no) in Major

Term
I Particular Affirmative (some) in
Minor Term
O Particular Negative (some, not)

*The Middle Term criminals as predicate in the Major premise (prae)

The Middle Term criminals as predicate in the Minor premise (prae)
4. BAROCO (AOO)
Pa + Mp
So - Mu
So - Pu
All pianists are musicians (Middle Term A Universal Affirmative in Major Term (all)
prae)
But some artists are not musicians (Middle O Particular Negative (some, not)
Term prae)
Therefore, some artists are not pianists
O Particular Negative (some, not)
*The Middle Term musicians as predicate in the Major premise (prae)
4

The Middle Term musicians as predicate in the Minor premise (prae)

Moods of the FOURTH FIGURE

The Fourth Figure (Predicate Subject) is considered the reverse of the First Figure
(Subject Predicate). It presents the Middle Term (M) as the predicate of the major
premise and as the subject of the Minor Term (S).
P M
M S
S P

(Prae sub) Predicate - subject

Rules:
1. If the major premise is affirmative, the minor premise must be universal
2. If the minor premise is an affirmative, the conclusion must be
particular
3. If either premise is negative, the major term must be universal
Rule 1. If the major premise is affirmative, its predicate which is the Middle Term is
particular. Consequently, the minor premise must be universal in order to establish
the Middle Term as a universal and, therefore, avoid an undistributed middle.
Rule 2. If the minor premise is affirmative, its predicate which is the minor
term is particular. To avoid an illicit minor, conclusion should be particular.
Rule 3. If either premise is negative, the conclusion would be negative and its
predicate, which is the major term would be universal. In order to avoid an illicit
major, the major premise must be universal.
The valid moods of the Fourth Figure are AAI, AEE, IAI, EAO, EIO
Proposit
ion
AAI
AEE
IAI
EAO
EIO

Mnemonic
brAmAntIp
cAmEnEs
dImArIs
fEsApO
frEsIsOn

1. BRAMANTIP (AAI)
Pa + Mp
Ma + Sp
Si + Pp
Example:
Every merchant is an investor
But every investor is a risk-taker
Therefore, some risk-takers are merchant

A Universal Affirmative (every) in

Major Term
A - Universal Affirmative (every) in
Minor Term
I Particular Affirmative (some)

*The Middle Term investor used as a predicate (prae) in the Major Premise
The Middle Term investor used as a subject (sub) in the Minor Premise
2. CAMENES (AEE)
Pa + Mp
Me - Su
Se - Pu
Example:
All mammals are warm-blooded,
But no warm-blooded animals is a reptile,
Therefore, no reptile is a mammal

A Universal Affirmative (every)

E- Universal Negative (no)
E- Universal Negative (no)

*The Middle Term warm-blooded used as a predicate (prae) in the Major Premise
The Middle Term warm-blooded used as a subject (sub) in the Minor Premise
3. DIMARIS (IAI)
Pi + Mp
Ma + Sp
Si + Pp
Example:
Some flowers are flagrant
But all flagrant things are pleasant
Therefore, some pleasant things are flowers

I Particular Affirmative (some)

A Universal Affirmative (all)
I Particular Affirmative (some)

*The Middle Term flagrant used as a predicate (prae) in the Major Premise
The Middle Term flagrant used as a subject (sub) in the Minor Premise
4. FESAPO (EAO)
Pe - Mu

e, u Universal Negative
7

Ma + Sp
So - Pu

a, p Universal Affirmative
o,u Particular Negative

Example:
No monkey is a linguist (predicate)
But all linguist are educated (subject)
Therefore, some educated persons are not
monkeys

E Universal Negative (no,is, a)

A Universal Affirmative (all, are)
O Particular Negative (some, are
not)

*The Middle Term linguist used as a predicate (prae) in the Major Premise
The Middle Term linguist used as a subject (sub) in the Minor Premise
5. FRESISON (EIO)
Pe - Mu (Universal Negative in Major Term)
Mi + Sp (Particular Affirmative in
So - Pu
Example:
No spider is a fly (predicate)
But some flies are insects (subject)
Therefore, some insects are not spiders

E Universal Negative (no)

I Particular Affirmative (some)
O Particular Negative (some, not)

Fly (Middle Term) use it as predicate in the Major Premise

Flies Middle Term use it as subject in the Minor Premise