“You should come over to my house. I have a Sega Genesis”
I hear John say in Sunday School (Names changed for privacy)
My eyes go wide, my jaw drops, I get a little lightheaded
“Did you say, ‘Sega Genesis?’” 🕹️
I ask with the wide eye enthusiasm of a 5 year old.
John was already the coolest kid I knew, because unlike everyone else in Sunday School he wore a T-Shirt and Jeans. So Now that I knew he had a Sega and was inviting me over to his house I could not be happier.
Every time I blew out birthday candles 🎂, every shooting star 🌟 and with every wishbone 🦴 I broke; I wished only to own my very own Sega. Their marketing did a great job with me. (Thank you Al Nilsen and Tom Kalinske)
This is how excited I was.
I even remember after going to his a house a few times him saying, “I feel like you’re coming over here just because I have a Sega. You know friends play with each other too, and are friends not because of the stuff they own.”
Well he’d caught me and taught me a valuable lesson. We did become best friends and all these years later we’re still friends and haven’t played Sega in a while.
Now as a Man I have put off childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11 📖) and am adopting a slower moving game. A game that practicing stoics call syllogisms.
I’m currently enrolled in a course through the college of stoic philosophers that teaches stoic logic, and from that course I learned syllogisms! 🧨🧨💥💥🧨🧨
<<Star of Disclaimer>>
The college of stoic philosophers is in no way affiliated with Damascus Lodge #10 or Free Masonry other than the possibility that Free Masons may be students of the college (such as myself 😃), and there may be faculty that are Masons (although I would not know who).
As Freemasons we are constantly looking to improve ourselves and are often students of philosophy. As Freemasons we do not adopt or endorse one particular philosophy as part of our fraternity. Our ritual does contain principles that can be found in many religions or philosophies but Masonry is not its self a religion or philosophy.
One may make an argument that, as a philosophy is a way of thinking, that Masonry does contribute or persuade to a certain manner of thought. As Pierre Hadot can be paraphrased, “philosophy was(is) a way of life.” Thus an argument can be made that any belief a person might have may attribute to his or her own personal philosophy and in that manner, masonry can be seen as a philosophy.
Also as I make this disclaimer, I am in no way a spokesman for all of masonry nor do I provide legal ⚖️ representation. I’m just a blogger with a dream 😴💭. Please don’t call the police 🚓. Now that about wraps up the disclaimer let’s get back to the real reason for today. The Syllogism Game 📢📢📢📢📢
<<End Disclaimer>>
The College offers some Syllogism (Yay Syllogism)🙌 exercises that I think would be really fun as a game.
Let’s get into it. For a more comprehensive list and my source material click this link >>>> link 🔗(wikipedia page for stoic logic if you’re nervous about unmarked links)
Types Of Syllogisms
| Name[d] | Description | Modern sequent | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modus ponens | If p, then q. p. Therefore, q. | {\displaystyle p\to q,\;p\;\;\vdash \;\;q} | If it is day, it is light. It is day. Therefore, it is light. |
| Modus tollens | If p, then q. Not q. Therefore, not p. | {\displaystyle p\to q,\;\neg q\;\;\vdash \;\neg p} | If it is day, it is light. It is not light. Therefore, it is not day. |
| Conjunctive syllogism | Not both p and q. p. Therefore, not q. | {\displaystyle \neg (p\land q),\;p\;\;\vdash \;\neg q} | It is not both day and night. It is day. Therefore, it is not night. |
| Modus tollendo ponens | Either p or q. Not p. Therefore, q. | {\displaystyle p\lor q,\;\neg p\;\;\vdash \;\;q} | It is either day or night. It is not day. Therefore, it is night. |
| Modus ponendo tollens | Either p or q. p. Therefore, not q. | {\displaystyle p{\underline {\lor }}q,\;p\;\;\vdash \;\neg q} | It is either day or night. It is day. Therefore, it is not night. |
So using these examples I’ll start at the top of the list using a Modus Ponens. If the 1st(p), then the 2nd(q) Therefore q
Modus Ponens Syllogism
If the carton of milk 🐮 is empty then I must go to the store 🛒 for more milk
The milk carton is empty 😱
Therefore I must go to the store 🛒 and buy 💰 more milk
——
Now for a Modus Tollens syllogism.
If the 1st (P) then the 2nd(q). Not the 2nd(q). Therefore, not p
Syllogism Modus Tollens
If your friends dance 🕺 then they are my friends
Your friends do not dance 😕
Your friends are no friends of mine 😰
See how this is much more fun than disclaimers. The logic isn’t always perfect but it’s a pretty useful tool for determining rational thought.
Try a few yourself and if you like them share them with the world by commenting below. Let us know the type of Syllogism you’re using… or let us guess in a reply. Let’s have fun 🎉
And as always if you want to be updated for new games 🎮 and articles 📒 send us an email and ask to be added to the list.
Looking forward to some AWESOME Brain 🧠 BUSTING Logic! I may even throw in comments of syllogisms myself from time to time.
Damascus Lodge #10 
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