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premiss is universal; and M belongs to no O; and not to some N; it
is possible for N to belong either to all O or to no O。 Terms for
the positive relation are white; animal; raven: for the negative
relation; white; stone; raven。 If the premisses are affirmative; terms
for the negative relation are white; animal; snow; for the positive
relation; white; animal; swan。 Evidently then; whenever the
premisses are similar in form; and one is universal; the other
particular; a syllogism can; not be formed anyhow。 Nor is one possible
if the middle term belongs to some of each of the extremes; or does
not belong to some of either; or belongs to some of the one; not to
some of the other; or belongs to neither universally; or is related to
them indefinitely。 Common terms for all the above are white; animal;
man: white; animal; inanimate。
It is clear then from what has been said that if the terms are related
to one another in the way stated; a syllogism results of necessity;
and if there is a syllogism; the terms must be so related。 But it is
evident also that all the syllogisms in this figure are imperfect: for
all are made perfect by certain supplementary statements; which either
are contained in the terms of necessity or are assumed as
hypotheses; i。e。 when we prove per impossibile。 And it is evident that
an affirmative conclusion is not attained by means of this figure; but
all are negative; whether universal or particular。
6
But if one term belongs to all; and another to none; of a third;
or if both belong to all; or to none; of it; I call such a figure
the third; by middle term in it I mean that of which both the
predicates are predicated; by extremes I mean the predicates; by the
major extreme that which is further from the middle; by the minor that
which is nearer to it。 The middle term stands outside the extremes;
and is last in position。 A syllogism cannot be perfect in this
figure either; but it may be valid whether the terms are related
universally or not to the middle term。
If they are universal; whenever both P and R belong to S; it follows
that P will necessarily belong to some R。 For; since the affirmative
statement is convertible; S will belong to some R: consequently
since P belongs to all S; and S to some R; P must belong to some R:
for a syllogism in the first figure is produced。 It is possible to
demonstrate this also per impossibile and by exposition。 For if both P
and R belong to all S; should one of the Ss; e。g。 N; be taken; both
P and R will belong to this; and thus P will belong to some R。
If R belongs to all S; and P to no S; there will be a syllogism to
prove that P will necessarily not belong to some R。 This may be
demonstrated in the same way as before by converting the premiss RS。
It might be proved also per impossibile; as in the former cases。 But
if R belongs to no S; P to all S; there will be no syllogism。 Terms
for the positive relation are animal; horse; man: for the negative
relation animal; inanimate; man。
Nor can there be a syllogism when both terms are asserted of no S。
Terms for the positive relation are animal; horse; inanimate; for
the negative relation man; horse; inanimate…inanimate being the middle
term。
It is clear then in this figure also when a syllogism will be
possible and when not; if the terms are related universally。 For
whenever both the terms are affirmative; there will be a syllogism
to prove that one extreme belongs to some of the other; but when
they are negative; no syllogism will be possible。 But when one is
negative; the other affirmative; if the major is negative; the minor
affirmative; there will be a syllogism to prove that the one extreme
does not belong to some of the other: but if the relation is reversed;
no syllogism will be possible。 If one term is related universally to
the middle; the other in part only; when both are affirmative there
must be a syllogism; no matter which of the premisses is universal。
For if R belongs to all S; P to some S; P must belong to some R。 For
since the affirmative statement is convertible S will belong to some
P: consequently since R belongs to all S; and S to some P; R must also
belong to some P: therefore P must belong to some R。
Again if R belongs to some S; and P to all S; P must belong to
some R。 This may be demonstrated in the same way as the preceding。 And
it is possible to demonstrate it also per impossibile and by
exposition; as in the former cases。 But if one term is affirmative;
the other negative; and if the affirmative is universal; a syllogism
will be possible whenever the minor term is affirmative。 For if R
belongs to all S; but P does not belong to some S; it is necessary
that P does not belong to some R。 For if P belongs to all R; and R
belongs to all S; then P will belong to all S: but we assumed that
it did not。 Proof is possible also without reduction ad impossibile;
if one of the Ss be taken to which P does not belong。
But whenever the major is affirmative; no syllogism will be
possible; e。g。 if P belongs to all S and R does not belong to some
S。 Terms for the universal affirmative relation are animate; man;
animal。 For the universal negative relation it is not possible to
get terms; if R belongs to some S; and does not belong to some S。
For if P belongs to all S; and R to some S; then P will belong to some
R: but we assumed that it belongs to no R。 We must put the matter as
before。' Since the expression 'it does not belong to some' is
indefinite; it may be used truly of that also which belongs to none。
But if R belongs to no S; no syllogism is possible; as has been shown。
Clearly then no syllogism will be possible here。
But if the negative term is universal; whenever the major is
negative and the minor affirmative there will be a syllogism。 For if P
belongs to no S; and R belongs to some S; P will not belong to some R:
for we shall have the first figure again; if the premiss RS is
converted。
But when the minor is negative; there will be no syllogism。 Terms
for the positive relation are animal; man; wild: for the negative
relation; animal; science; wild…the middle in both being the term
wild。
Nor is a syllogism possible when both are stated in the negative;
but one is universal; the other particular。 When the minor is
related universally to the middle; take the terms animal; science;
wild; animal; man; wild。 When the major is related universally to
the middle; take as terms for a negative relation raven; snow;
white。 For a positive relation terms can