## Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic

### On the Insufficiency of Linear Diagrams for Syllogisms

#### Abstract

In Volume 33:1 of the Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic, a system for diagramming syllogistic inferences using straight line segments is presented by Englebretsen. In light of recent research on the representational power of diagrammatic representation systems by the authors, we point out some problems with the proposal, and indeed, with any proposal for representing logically possible situations diagrammatically. We shall first outline the proposed linear diagrammatic system of Englebretsen, and then show by means of counterexamples that it is inadequate as a representation scheme for general logical inferences (the task for which the system is intended). We also show that modifications to the system fail to remedy the problems. The considerations we present are not limited to the particular proposal of Englebretsen; we thus draw a more general moral about the use of spatial relations in representation systems.

#### Article information

Source
Notre Dame J. Formal Logic Volume 39, Number 4 (1998), 573-580.

Dates
First available: 5 December 2002

http://projecteuclid.org/euclid.ndjfl/1039118871

Mathematical Reviews number (MathSciNet)
MR1776228

Digital Object Identifier
doi:10.1305/ndjfl/1039118871

Zentralblatt MATH identifier
1002.03517

#### Citation

Lemon, Oliver; Pratt, Ian. On the Insufficiency of Linear Diagrams for Syllogisms. Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic 39 (1998), no. 4, 573--580. doi:10.1305/ndjfl/1039118871. http://projecteuclid.org/euclid.ndjfl/1039118871.

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