/ No A is B.
E <
\ .'. No B is A.
/ Some A is B.
I <
\ .'. Some B is A.
§ 491. The reason why O cannot be converted at all is that its subject
is undistributed and that the proposition is negative. Now, when the
proposition is converted, what was the subject becomes the predicate,
and, as the proposition must still be negative, the former subject
would now be distributed, since every negative proposition distributes
its predicate. Hence we should necessarily have a term distributed in
the converse which was not distributed in the convertend. From 'Some
men are not doctors,' it plainly does not follow that 'Some doctors
are not men'; and, generally from 'Some A is not B' it cannot be
inferred that 'Some B is not A,' since the proposition 'Some A is not
B' admits of the interpretation that B is wholly contained in A.
[Illustration]
§ 492. It may often happen as a matter of fact that in some given
matter a proposition of the form 'All B is A' is true simultaneously
with 'All A is B.' Thus it is as true to say that 'All equiangular
triangles are equilateral' as that 'All equilateral triangles are
equiangular.' Nevertheless we are not logically warranted in inferring
the one from the other. Each has to be established on its separate
evidence.
§ 493. On the theory of the quantified predicate the difference
between simple conversion and conversion by limitation disappears. For
the quantity of a proposition is then no longer determined solely by
reference to the quantity of its subject. 'All A is some B' is of no
greater quantity than 'Some B is all A,' if both subject and predicate
have an equal claim to be considered.
§ 494. Some propositions occur in ordinary language in which the
quantity of the predicate is determined. This is especially the case
when the subject is a singular term. Such propositions admit of
conversion by a mere transposition of their subject and predicate,
even though they fall under the form of the A proposition, e.g.
Virtue is the condition of happiness.
.'. The condition of happiness is virtue.
And again,
Virtue is a condition of happiness.
.'. A condition of happiness is virtue.
In the one case the quantity of the predicate is determined by the
form of the expression as distributed, in the other as undistributed.
§ 495. Conversion offers a good illustration of the principle on which
we have before insisted, namely, that in the ordinary form of
proposition the subject is used in extension and the predicate in
intension. For when by conversion we change the predicate into the
subject, we are often obliged to attach a noun substantive to the
predicate, in order that it may be taken in extension, instead of, as
before, in intension, e.g.
Some mothers are unkind.
.'. Some unkind persons are mothers.
Again,
Virtue is conducive to happiness.
.'. One of the things which are conducive to happiness is virtue.
CHAPTER V.
_Of Permutation._
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