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Syllogism test on athletes: from 'All good athletes win' and 'All good athletes eat well', decide which conclusions must follow (All who eat well are good athletes; All who win eat well)

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Neither I nor II follows

Explanation:


Given data

  • Premise 1: All good athletes win (GoodAthlete ⟶ Win).
  • Premise 2: All good athletes eat well (GoodAthlete ⟶ EatWell).
  • Conclusions to test:
    • I: All who eat well are good athletes (EatWell ⟶ GoodAthlete).
    • II: All who win eat well (Win ⟶ EatWell).


Concept/Approach (why this method)

Chain only what is compelled by universals. Beware of illicit converse: from 'All A are B' you cannot infer 'All B are A'.


Step-by-Step calculation / logic
1) From premises: GoodAthlete ⟶ Win and GoodAthlete ⟶ EatWell, hence GoodAthlete ⟶ (Win ∧ EatWell).2) Conclusion I flips Premise 2 (illicit converse), not guaranteed ⇒ false.3) Conclusion II extends 'Win' to everyone, but we only know a subset (good athletes) who win eat well ⇒ not necessary ⇒ false.


Verification/Alternative

Counterexample: Let some non-athletes eat well or win; premises permit this. Then I and II fail.


Common pitfalls

  • Assuming all winners are good athletes (overgeneralization).
  • Conflating sufficient and necessary conditions.


Final Answer
Neither I nor II follows.

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