∴ No stones are men.
FIG. 10.
Here the middle term mortal is distributed in the second premise as in it the subject “stones” is excluded from the entire mortal territory. This conclusion is verified by the formal statement that “E” distributes both subject and predicate. Since all of the “men” circle belongs to the “mortal” circle and none of the “stones” circle belongs to the “mortal” circle then none of the “stones” circle can belong to the “men” circle.
(4) No term must be distributed in the conclusion which is not also distributed in its premise.
It has been affirmed that a term is distributed when it is referred to as a definite whole. To put it in another way, a term is distributed when it is employed in its fullest sense. It is obvious that we should not employ a term in its fullest sense in the conclusion when it has been used only in a partial sense in its premise. What is said of the part cannot necessarily be said of the whole. For example: Because some men are honest it does not follow that all men are honest. Of course the converse of this is true, namely, if it could be proved that all men are honest then surely it wouldfollow that some of the men are honest. To put it briefly: What is true of all is true of some but what is true of some is not necessarily true of all.
To distribute a term in the conclusion when it is not distributed in the premise where it occurs is equivalent to saying, “what is true of some is true of all.” This error which violates rule “4” leads to the two fallacies of illicit process of the major and minor terms. The following illustrate the two fallacies.
Syllogism illustrating illicit major:
All trees grow,
No men are trees,