A Class Room Logic / Deductive and Inductive, with Special Application to the Science and Art of Teaching

by George Hastings McNair

(3) The minor term must, therefore, be undistributed in the minor premise, and in consequence undistributed in the conclusion.

(4) But this undistributed minor term is the subject of the conclusion; hence said conclusion must be particular, as only particulars have an undistributed subject.

“AO” and “EI” considered.

Proof:

(1) “AO” distribute two terms; so do “EI.”

(2) Both “AO” and “EI” must have negative conclusions according to rule 6.

(3) A negative conclusion distributes its predicate which is the major term.

(4) The major term and the middle term must be distributed in the premises. Rules 4 and 3.

(5) Thus the third term, which is the minor, cannot be distributed in the minor premise and, consequently, the minor cannot be distributed in the conclusion.

(6) This necessitates a particular conclusion.