SYLLOGISM CHECKER
Does “Some journalists are criminals” follow?
From two starting points: “All criminals are opponents of police surveillance” and “Some journalists are opponents of police surveillance”.
Read instantly by the built-in reader.
Have Claude read it too — it reconstructs everyday wording that the built-in reader takes literally; the verdict is still computed here.
Try one:
The two linkssay each as strongly as you can defend, and no more — ⇄ flips its direction
The other half: how to check whether the starting points are true
This page answers one question — does the conclusion follow. It says nothing about whether
the starting points are true, and the commonest trick in an argument is impeccable logic on
a premise nobody examined. That half cannot be automated, so here is the checklist. Ask it of every
side equally, including your own.
1 · Find the load-bearing premise
What does the whole argument actually hang on?
- Which claim, if it fell, would take the conclusion with it?
- What is presented as obvious but is in fact contested?
- What would I have to already believe for this to make sense?
- Which step from the reasons to the conclusion went unspoken?
2 · If it is a checkable fact
Numbers, documents, events — open them.
- What source confirms it, and can I open that source myself?
- Does the source say exactly that, or something reworded on the way?
- What would prove this claim false?
- If there is no source, why is there no source?
3 · If it is a value judgement
Nobody settles a value for you; these questions only
show what is hidden.
- Whose value is it, and does everyone here accept it as given?
- Would I apply the same judgement to the other side?
- Is a fact dressed up as a value, or a value dressed up as a fact?
- What would someone who disagrees — and is not a bad person — say?
4 · If it is a prediction, or a claim about intent
Neither can be checked now. Be wary when either is
stated as fact.
- How could anyone know what another person intended — where is the evidence, rather than the feeling?
- Is something unprovable being treated as already settled?
- What would confirm or refute this prediction, and by when?
- Is fear standing in for evidence?
5 · Two questions for every argument, without exception
- What would convince you that you are wrong? If nothing would, this is faith rather than argument.
- Can I put the same question to the side I agree with?
In a dialogue this is what the panel is for: whether a starting point is true is decided by the people who
know the situation, not by this page and not by a model.