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第18章

prior analytics-第18章

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possible to refute a statement by this method of division; nor to draw



a conclusion about an accident or property of a thing; nor about its



genus; nor in cases in which it is unknown whether it is thus or thus;



e。g。 whether the diagonal is incommensurate。 For if he assumes that



every length is either commensurate or incommensurate; and the



diagonal is a length; he has proved that the diagonal is either



incommensurate or commensurate。 But if he should assume that it is



incommensurate; he will have assumed what he ought to have proved。



He cannot then prove it: for this is his method; but proof is not



possible by this method。 Let A stand for 'incommensurate or



commensurate'; B for 'length'; C for 'diagonal'。 It is clear then that



this method of investigation is not suitable for every inquiry; nor is



it useful in those cases in which it is thought to be most suitable。



  From what has been said it is clear from what elements



demonstrations are formed and in what manner; and to what points we



must look in each problem。







                                32







  Our next business is to state how we can reduce syllogisms to the



aforementioned figures: for this part of the inquiry still remains。 If



we should investigate the production of the syllogisms and had the



power of discovering them; and further if we could resolve the



syllogisms produced into the aforementioned figures; our original



problem would be brought to a conclusion。 It will happen at the same



time that what has been already said will be confirmed and its truth



made clearer by what we are about to say。 For everything that is



true must in every respect agree with itself First then we must



attempt to select the two premisses of the syllogism (for it is easier



to divide into large parts than into small; and the composite parts



are larger than the elements out of which they are made); next we must



inquire which are universal and which particular; and if both



premisses have not been stated; we must ourselves assume the one which



is missing。 For sometimes men put forward the universal premiss; but



do not posit the premiss which is contained in it; either in writing



or in discussion: or men put forward the premisses of the principal



syllogism; but omit those through which they are inferred; and



invite the concession of others to no purpose。 We must inquire then



whether anything unnecessary has been assumed; or anything necessary



has been omitted; and we must posit the one and take away the other;



until we have reached the two premisses: for unless we have these;



we cannot reduce arguments put forward in the way described。 In some



arguments it is easy to see what is wanting; but some escape us; and



appear to be syllogisms; because something necessary results from what



has been laid down; e。g。 if the assumptions were made that substance



is not annihilated by the annihilation of what is not substance; and



that if the elements out of which a thing is made are annihilated;



then that which is made out of them is destroyed: these propositions



being laid down; it is necessary that any part of substance is



substance; this has not however been drawn by syllogism from the



propositions assumed; but premisses are wanting。 Again if it is



necessary that animal should exist; if man does; and that substance



should exist; if animal does; it is necessary that substance should



exist if man does: but as yet the conclusion has not been drawn



syllogistically: for the premisses are not in the shape we required。



We are deceived in such cases because something necessary results from



what is assumed; since the syllogism also is necessary。 But that which



is necessary is wider than the syllogism: for every syllogism is



necessary; but not everything which is necessary is a syllogism。



Consequently; though something results when certain propositions are



assumed; we must not try to reduce it directly; but must first state



the two premisses; then divide them into their terms。 We must take



that term as middle which is stated in both the remisses: for it is



necessary that the middle should be found in both premisses in all the



figures。



  If then the middle term is a predicate and a subject of predication;



or if it is a predicate; and something else is denied of it; we



shall have the first figure: if it both is a predicate and is denied



of something; the middle figure: if other things are predicated of it;



or one is denied; the other predicated; the last figure。 For it was



thus that we found the middle term placed in each figure。 It is placed



similarly too if the premisses are not universal: for the middle



term is determined in the same way。 Clearly then; if the same term



is not stated more than once in the course of an argument; a syllogism



cannot be made: for a middle term has not been taken。 Since we know



what sort of thesis is established in each figure; and in which the



universal; in what sort the particular is described; clearly we must



not look for all the figures; but for that which is appropriate to the



thesis in hand。 If the thesis is established in more figures than one;



we shall recognize the figure by the position of the middle term。







                                33







  Men are frequently deceived about syllogisms because the inference



is necessary; as has been said above; sometimes they are deceived by



the similarity in the positing of the terms; and this ought not to



escape our notice。 E。g。 if A is stated of B; and B of C: it would seem



that a syllogism is possible since the terms stand thus: but nothing



necessary results; nor does a syllogism。 Let A represent the term



'being eternal'; B 'Aristomenes as an object of thought'; C



'Aristomenes'。 It is true then that A belongs to B。 For Aristomenes as



an object of thought is eternal。 But B also belongs to C: for



Aristomenes is Aristomenes as an object of thought。 But A does not



belong to C: for Aristomenes is perishable。 For no syllogism was



made although the terms stood thus: that required that the premiss



AB should be stated universally。 But this is false; that every



Aristomenes who is an object of thought is eternal; since



Aristomenes is perishable。 Again let C stand for 'Miccalus'; B for



'musical Miccalus'; A for 'perishing to…morrow'。 It is true to



predicate B of C: for Miccalus is musical Miccalus。 Also A can be



predicated of B: for musical Miccalus might perish to…morrow。 But to



state A of C is false at any rate。 This argument then is identical



with the former; for it is not true universally that musical



Miccalus perishes to…morrow: but unless this is assumed; no



syllogism (as we have shown) is possible。



  This deception then arises through ignoring a small distinction。 For



if we accept the conclusion as though it made no difference whether we



said 'This belong to that' or 'This belongs to all of that'。







                                34







  Men will frequently fall into fallacies through not setting out



the terms of the premiss well; e。g。 suppose A to be health; B disease;



C man。 It is true to say that A cannot belong to any B (for health



belongs to no disease) and again that B belongs to every C (for



every man is capable of disease)。 It would seem to follow that



health cannot belong to any man。 The reason for this is that the terms



are not set out well in the statement; since if the things which are



in the conditions are substituted; no syllogism can be made; e。g。 if



'healthy' is substituted for 'health' and 'diseased' for 'disease

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