贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > prior analytics >

第2章

prior analytics-第2章

小说: prior analytics 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!






we speak about the possible。 At present we may take this much as clear



in addition to what has been said: the statement that it is possible



that no B is A or some B is not A is affirmative in form: for the



expression 'is possible' ranks along with 'is'; and 'is' makes an



affirmation always and in every case; whatever the terms to which it



is added; in predication; e。g。 'it is not…good' or 'it is not…white'



or in a word 'it is not…this'。 But this also will be proved in the



sequel。 In conversion these premisses will behave like the other



affirmative propositions。







                                 4







  After these distinctions we now state by what means; when; and how



every syllogism is produced; subsequently we must speak of



demonstration。 Syllogism should be discussed before demonstration



because syllogism is the general: the demonstration is a sort of



syllogism; but not every syllogism is a demonstration。



  Whenever three terms are so related to one another that the last



is contained in the middle as in a whole; and the middle is either



contained in; or excluded from; the first as in or from a whole; the



extremes must be related by a perfect syllogism。 I call that term



middle which is itself contained in another and contains another in



itself: in position also this comes in the middle。 By extremes I



mean both that term which is itself contained in another and that in



which another is contained。 If A is predicated of all B; and B of



all C; A must be predicated of all C: we have already explained what



we mean by 'predicated of all'。 Similarly also; if A is predicated



of no B; and B of all C; it is necessary that no C will be A。



  But if the first term belongs to all the middle; but the middle to



none of the last term; there will be no syllogism in respect of the



extremes; for nothing necessary follows from the terms being so



related; for it is possible that the first should belong either to all



or to none of the last; so that neither a particular nor a universal



conclusion is necessary。 But if there is no necessary consequence;



there cannot be a syllogism by means of these premisses。 As an example



of a universal affirmative relation between the extremes we may take



the terms animal; man; horse; of a universal negative relation; the



terms animal; man; stone。 Nor again can syllogism be formed when



neither the first term belongs to any of the middle; nor the middle to



any of the last。 As an example of a positive relation between the



extremes take the terms science; line; medicine: of a negative



relation science; line; unit。



  If then the terms are universally related; it is clear in this



figure when a syllogism will be possible and when not; and that if a



syllogism is possible the terms must be related as described; and if



they are so related there will be a syllogism。



  But if one term is related universally; the other in part only; to



its subject; there must be a perfect syllogism whenever universality



is posited with reference to the major term either affirmatively or



negatively; and particularity with reference to the minor term



affirmatively: but whenever the universality is posited in relation to



the minor term; or the terms are related in any other way; a syllogism



is impossible。 I call that term the major in which the middle is



contained and that term the minor which comes under the middle。 Let



all B be A and some C be B。 Then if 'predicated of all' means what was



said above; it is necessary that some C is A。 And if no B is A but



some C is B; it is necessary that some C is not A。 The meaning of



'predicated of none' has also been defined。 So there will be a perfect



syllogism。 This holds good also if the premiss BC should be



indefinite; provided that it is 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 and negative。 Such a figure I call the first。







                                 5







  Whenever the same thing belongs to all of one subject; and to none



of another; or to all of each subject or to none of either; I call



such a figure the second; by middle term in it I mean that which is



predicated of both subjects; by extremes the terms of which this is



said; by major extreme that which lies near the middle; by minor



that which is further away from the middle。 The middle term stands



outside the extremes; and is first in position。 A syllogism cannot



be perfect anyhow in this figure; but it may be valid whether the



terms are related universally or not。



  If then the terms are related universally a syllogism will be



possible; whenever the middle belongs to all of one subject and to



none of another (it does not matter which has the negative



relation); but in no other way。 Let M be predica

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的