If the statement "Some professors are spiritualists" is given as true, which of the following statements can be immediately inferred to be false?
AAll professors are spiritualists
BSome professors are not spiritualists
CSome spiritualists are not professors
DNo professors are spiritualists ✓ Correct
Correct answer: (D) No professors are spiritualists
Explanation
If "Some professors are spiritualists" is true, then "No professors are spiritualists" must be false.
The given statement is a particular affirmative proposition.
Its contradictory on the square of opposition is the universal negative.
Contradictories can never share the same truth value at the same time.
Since the particular affirmative is true, its contradictory the universal negative is necessarily false.
Thus the claim that no professors are spiritualists is immediately inferred false.
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