Syllogism — Given: Some doctors are teachers. All teachers are counsellors. Determine which conclusions follow: I) Some counsellors are not teachers. II) Some doctors are counsellors.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Only conclusion II follows

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This problem involves set inclusions. We must check if the provided conclusions necessarily follow from the premises about doctors, teachers, and counsellors.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Premise 1: Some doctors are teachers (Doctors ∩ Teachers is non-empty).
  • Premise 2: All teachers are counsellors (Teachers ⊆ Counsellors).


Concept / Approach:
Use transitivity of subset and existence from 'some'. If some doctors are teachers and all teachers are counsellors, then those doctor-teachers are counsellors, implying 'Some doctors are counsellors'. However, 'Some counsellors are not teachers' introduces a negative that is not supported by the premises.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: From Premise 1, choose an element d with d ∈ Doctors and d ∈ Teachers.Step 2: From Premise 2, Teachers ⊆ Counsellors, hence d ∈ Counsellors.Step 3: Therefore, some doctors are counsellors (existential conclusion true).Step 4: There is no information guaranteeing the existence of counsellors outside Teachers, so 'Some counsellors are not teachers' is not necessary.


Verification / Alternative check:
A model where Teachers = Counsellors makes I false but II true. As long as at least one doctor is a teacher, II follows.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Only I follows: unsupported; could be false if Counsellors equals Teachers.
  • Both follow: I is not necessary.
  • Neither follows: II must follow.


Common Pitfalls:
Assuming a larger set necessarily contains elements outside a subset without evidence.


Final Answer:
Only conclusion II follows.

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