Page - 60 - in The Complete Aristotle
Image of the Page - 60 -
Text of the Page - 60 -
affirmative: for we shall have the same syllogism whether the premiss is
indefinite or particular.
But if the universality is posited with respect to the minor term either
affirmatively or negatively, a syllogism will not be possible, whether the
major premiss is positive or negative, indefinite or particular: e.g. if some B is
or is not A, and all C is B. As an example of a positive relation between the
extremes take the terms good, state, wisdom: of a negative relation, good,
state, ignorance. Again if no C is B, but some B is or is not A or not every B
is A, there cannot be a syllogism. Take the terms white, horse, swan: white,
horse, raven. The same terms may be taken also if the premiss BA is
indefinite.
Nor when the major premiss is universal, whether affirmative or negative,
and the minor premiss is negative and particular, can there be a syllogism,
whether the minor premiss be indefinite or particular: e.g. if all B is A and
some C is not B, or if not all C is B. For the major term may be predicable
both of all and of none of the minor, to some of which the middle term cannot
be attributed. Suppose the terms are animal, man, white: next take some of the
white things of which man is not predicated-swan and snow: animal is
predicated of all of the one, but of none of the other. Consequently there
cannot be a syllogism. Again let no B be A, but let some C not be B. Take the
terms inanimate, man, white: then take some white things of which man is not
predicated-swan and snow: the term inanimate is predicated of all of the one,
of none of the other.
Further since it is indefinite to say some C is not B, and it is true that some
C is not B, whether no C is B, or not all C is B, and since if terms are assumed
such that no C is B, no syllogism follows (this has already been stated) it is
clear that this arrangement of terms will not afford a syllogism: otherwise one
would have been possible with a universal negative minor premiss. A similar
proof may also be given if the universal premiss is negative.
Nor can there in any way be a syllogism if both the relations of subject and
predicate are particular, either positively or negatively, or the one negative
and the other affirmative, or one indefinite and the other definite, or both
indefinite. Terms common to all the above are animal, white, horse: animal,
white, stone.
It is clear then from what has been said that if there is a syllogism in this
figure with a particular conclusion, the terms must be related as we have
stated: if they are related otherwise, no syllogism is possible anyhow. It is
evident also that all the syllogisms in this figure are perfect (for they are all
completed by means of the premisses originally taken) and that all
conclusions are proved by this figure, viz. universal and particular, affirmative
60
back to the
book The Complete Aristotle"
The Complete Aristotle
- Title
- The Complete Aristotle
- Author
- Aristotle
- Date
- ~322 B.C.
- Language
- English
- License
- PD
- Size
- 21.0 x 29.7 cm
- Pages
- 2328
- Keywords
- Philosophy, Antique, Philosophie, Antike, Dialogues, Metaphysik, Metaphysics, Ideologie, Ideology, Englisch
- Categories
- Geisteswissenschaften
- International
Table of contents
- Part 1; Logic (Organon) 3
- Categories 4
- On Interpretation 34
- Prior Analytics, Book I 56
- Prior Analytics, Book II 113
- Posterior Analytics, Book I 149
- Posterior Analytics, Book II 193
- Topics, Book I 218
- Topics, Book II 221
- Topics, Book III 237
- Topics, Book IV 248
- Topics, Book V 266
- Topics, Book VI 291
- Topics, Book VII 317
- Topics, Book VIII 326
- On Sophistical Refutations 348
- Part 2; Universal Physics 396
- Physics, Book I 397
- Physics, Book II 415
- Physics, Book III 432
- Physics, Book IV 449
- Physics, Book V 481
- Physics, Book VI 496
- Physics, Book VII 519
- Physics, Book VIII 533
- On the Heavens, Book I 570
- On the Heavens, Book II 599
- On the Heavens, Book III 624
- On the Heavens, Book IV 640
- On Generation and Corruption, Book I 651
- On Generation and Corruption, Book II 685
- Meteorology, Book I 707
- Meteorology, Book II 733
- Meteorology, Book III 760
- Meteorology, Book IV 773
- Part 3; Human Physics 795
- On the Soul, Book I 796
- On the Soul, Book II 815
- On the Soul, Book III 840
- On Sense and the Sensible 861
- On Memory and Reminiscence 889
- On Sleep and Sleeplessness 899
- On Dreams 909
- On Prophesying by Dreams 918
- On Longevity and the Shortness of Life 923
- On Youth, Old Age, Life and Death, and Respiration 929
- Part 4; Animal Physics 952
- The History of Animals, Book I 953
- The History of Animals, Book II translated 977
- The History of Animals, Book III 1000
- The History of Animals, Book IV 1029
- The History of Animals, Book V 1056
- The History of Animals, Book VI 1094
- The History of Animals, Book VII 1135
- The History of Animals, Book VIII 1150
- The History of Animals, Book IX 1186
- On the Parts of Animals, Book I 1234
- On the Parts of Animals, Book II 1249
- On the Parts of Animals, Book III 1281
- On the Parts of Animals, Book IV 1311
- On the Motion of Animals 1351
- On the Gait of Animals 1363
- On the Generation of Animals, Book I 1381
- On the Generation of Animals, Book II 1412
- On the Generation of Animals, Book III 1444
- On the Generation of Animals, Book IV 1469
- On the Generation of Animals, Book V 1496
- Part 5; Metaphysics 1516
- Part 6; Ethics and Politics 1748
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book I 1749
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book II 1766
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book III 1779
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book IV 1799
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book V 1817
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book VI 1836
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book VII 1851
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book VIII 1872
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book IX 1890
- Nicomachean Ethics, Book X 1907
- Politics, Book I 1925
- Politics, Book II 1943
- Politics, Book III 1970
- Politics, Book IV 1997
- Politics, Book V 2023
- Politics, Book VI 2053
- Politics, Book VII 2065
- Politics, Book VIII 2091
- The Athenian Constitution 2102
- Part 7; Aesthetic Writings 2156