Chapter 6.1, cont’d.
Recognizing Valid Forms on Sight
(or, “Who Needs Venn Diagrams When
You Can Just Sing?”)
Mood & figure:
There are 256 possible syllogistic mood/figure combinations, but of all
those, there are exactly only 15 valid forms.
1st figure
2nd figure
AAA
EAE
AII
EIO
3rd figure
AOO
AEE
EAE
EIO
OAO
AII
IAI
EIO
4th figure
AEE
IAI
EIO
The new and improved diagram
(for you visual learners)
Mood & figure:
Scholastic logicians gave each form a name using the vowels for a mnemonic device.
1st figure
2nd figure
AAA - Barbara
EAE - Celarent
AII - Darii
EIO - Ferio
3rd figure
AOO - Baroco
AEE - Camenes
EAE - Cesare
EIO - Ferison
OAO - Bocardo
AII - Datisi
IAI - Dimaris
EIO - Festino
4th figure
AEE - Camestres
IAI - Disamis
EIO - Fresison
Mood & figure:
Memorizing the names is sufficient to remind you of the valid forms.
1st figure
2nd figure
ArbArA
cElArEnt
dArII
fErIO
ArOcO
cAmEnEs
cEsArE
fErIsOn
3rd figure
4th figure
b
b
OcArdO
dAtIsI
dImArIs
fEstInO
b
AmEstrEs
dIsAmIs
frEsIsOn
c
But how does one memorize such a jumble of virtual nonsense words?
Barbara Celarent
(for you auditory types)
Barbara, Celarent, Darii, Ferioque prioris,
Baroco, Camenes, et Cesare, Ferison a secutis,
Bocardo, Datisique, Dimaris, Festino tertia habet,
Camestres, Disamis, et Fresison in super quarta addet.
Barbara Celarent mnemonic,
sing along to the tune of “It may not be on the mountain height.”
• Barb’RA, Ce-LA-rent, DA-ri-I,
Fer-I-o-que PRI-o-RIS,
• Ba-RO-co, Ca-ME-nes, et CE-sar-E,
Fe-RI-son a SE-cu-TIS
• Bo-CAR-do, Da-TI-si-que, Di-MA-ris,
Fes-TI-no ter-TI-a ha-BET,
• Ca-ME-stres, DI-sa-MIS, et FRE-si-SON
in SU-per quar-TA ad-DET.
“I’ll see what
you want me
to see.”
But it doesn’t mean anything!
Ah! contrair, mon ami!
• “Barbara, Celarent, Darii
and Ferio are first,
• Seconded by Baroco,
Camenes, Cesare, and
Ferison;
• The third has Bocardo,
Datisi, Dimaris, and
Festino;
• Over and above, in the
fourth, Camestres,
Disamis, and Fresison
should be added.”
Barbara Celarent Remix
• Barbara, Celarent, Darii, Ferio
are in the prime.
• Baroco, Camenes, and Cesare,
Ferison: the second line.
• Bocardo, Datisi, and Dimaris,
Festino—they’re all in the third.
• Camestres, Disamis, and
Fresison are fourth, lest you
sound absurd.
Barbara Celarent Remix, continued
• I’ll sing this enough for
my memory’s sake,
• And my friends will all
think I’m a geek.
• But—hey!—I’m in logic:
I have no friends.
Barbara Celarent Remix, continued
• Perhaps I should work my
obliques.
Other clues
• There are other
subtle hints to
memorizing the 15
valid syllogistic
forms.
• Can you find any?
– Think alphabetical
order of names.
– What about EIO’s?