Which of the following pairs of statements are related such that they can…
2023
Which of the following pairs of statements are related such that they can neither both be true nor both be false?
A. No saints are materialists.
B. All saints are materialists.
C. Some saints are not materialists.
D. Some saints are materialists.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer: C. A & D only — CONCEPTIn the traditional square of opposition, contradictory categorical propositions cannot both be true and cannot both be false. The contradictory pairs…
- A.
A & C only
- B.
B & D only
- C.
A & D only
- D.
C & D only
Attempted by 4 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
CONCEPT
In the traditional square of opposition, contradictory categorical propositions cannot both be true and cannot both be false.
The contradictory pairs are A with O, and E with I.
APPLICATION
Statement A, “No saints are materialists,” is an E-proposition (universal negative).
Statement D, “Some saints are materialists,” is an I-proposition (particular affirmative).
E and I are contradictory: if even one saint is a materialist, A is false and D is true; if no saint is a materialist, A is true and D is false.
CROSS-CHECK
The other contradictory pair is B (an A-proposition) with C (an O-proposition), but B and C do not occur together in any offered answer.
A and C can both be true when saints exist and none is a materialist.
B and D can both be true when saints exist and every saint is a materialist.
C and D can both be true when one saint is not a materialist and another saint is a materialist.
Therefore, the listed contradictory pair is A and D only.