Few given as a sign of a plurative proposition also serves as a sign of the partitive. The plurative aspect is prominent when it is said that “Few men can be millionaires” and emphasis is placed upon the meaning that “Most men cannot be millionaires.” But when emphasis is given to “few,” as meaning few only rather than the most are not, then the I and the O are both implied; e. g., Some men become millionaires, but the most do not.
To put it in a word, “all-not,” “some” and “few” introducepartitive propositions when the meaning implies both an I and an O. When treating such in logic the meaning which seems to be given the greater prominence must be accepted. Surely in the statement, “All that glitters is not gold,” the O-interpretation is the one intended; namely, “Some things which glitter are not gold.”
ILLUSTRATIONS:
(1) “All men are not honest.”
(2) “Few men live to be a hundred.”
(3) “Some men are consistent.”
The first proposition with the emphasis placed upon all suggesting that some men are not honest, is the intended proposition while some men are honest is the implied. In reducing it to the logical form the intended proposition is the one which should be used.
With the emphasis upon few and some, the second and third propositions may be interpreted as follows: (2) Intended proposition, Some men do not live to be a hundred. Implied proposition, Some men do live to be a hundred. (3) Intended proposition, Some men are consistent. Implied proposition, Some men are not consistent.
(6) Exceptive Propositions.
These are introduced by such signs as all except, all but, all save. To wit: (1) “All except James and John may be excused”; (2) “All but a few of the culprits have been arrested”; (3) “All birds save the English sparrow are serviceable to man” are exceptive propositions.