Syllogism — Evaluate: (a) All politicians are intelligent. (b) Some women are politicians. Conclusions: I) Some women are intelligent. II) All intelligent persons are women.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Only conclusion I follows

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The task is to deduce what must be true from two premises linking politicians, intelligence, and women.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • (a) Politicians ⊆ Intelligent.
  • (b) Some Women are Politicians (Women ∩ Politicians non-empty).


Concept / Approach:
Chain subsets: if some women are politicians, and all politicians are intelligent, then those women are intelligent. Conversely asserting that all intelligent persons are women reverses the direction without support.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Pick w with w ∈ Women ∩ Politicians.Step 2: From (a), Politicians ⊆ Intelligent, hence w ∈ Intelligent.Step 3: Therefore, 'Some women are intelligent' holds.Step 4: Nothing implies Intelligent ⊆ Women, so II fails.


Verification / Alternative check:
Countermodel for II: there can be intelligent men; II is thus not necessary.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Only II follows: converse error.
  • Both follow: II is false.
  • Neither follows: I must follow.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing subset direction in universal statements.


Final Answer:
Only conclusion I follows.

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