But since the quality of a Hypothetical Proposition is determined by the
quality of its consequent, not at all by the quality of its antecedent,
we cannot get from these two major premises any really new Moods, that
is to say, Moods exhibiting any formal difference from the four
previously expounded.
It is obvious that, given the hypothetical major premise--
If A is B, C is D--
we cannot, by denying the antecedent, infer a denial of the consequent.
That A is B, is a mark of C being D; but we are not told that it is the
sole and indispensable condition of it. If men read good books, they
acquire knowledge; but they may acquire knowledge by other means, as by
observation. For the same reason, we cannot by affirming the consequent
infer the affirmation of the antecedent: Caius may have acquired
knowledge; but we cannot thence conclude that he has read good books.
To see this in another light, let us recall chap. v. § 4, where it was
shown that a hypothetical proposition may be translated into a
categorical one; whence it follows that a Hypothetical Syllogism may be
translated into a Categorical Syllogism. Treating the above examples
thus, we find that the _Modus ponens_ (with affirmative major premise)
takes the form of Barbara, and the _Modus tollens_ the form of
Camestres:
_Modus ponens._ Barbara.
If A is B, C is D; The case of A being B is a case of C being D;
A is B: This is a case of A being B:
∴ C is D. ∴ This is a case of C being D.
Now if, instead of this, we affirm the consequent, to form the new minor
premise,
This is a case of C being D,
there will be a Syllogism in the Second Figure with two affirmative
premises, and therefore the fallacy of undistributed Middle. Again:
_Modus tollens._ Camestres.
If A is B, C is D; The case of A being B is a case of C being D:
C is not D: This is not a case of C being D:
∴ A is not B. ∴ This is not a case of A being B.
But if, instead of this, we deny the antecedent, to form the new minor
premise,
This is not a case of A being B,
there arises a syllogism in the First Figure with a negative minor
premise, and therefore the fallacy of illicit process of the major term.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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