An introductory text-book of logic - Mellone, Sydney - Rare Books at ...

220 CONDITIONAL ARGUMENTS AND
of the syllogism is therefore not contained in the
major premise. The major premise, when expressed
so as to bring out its real meaning, naturally takes
the hypothetical form (see above, 4), since the whole
emphasis is laid on the intension of its terms ; and
the syllogism may be thus expressed :
"
If anything possesses the attribute M, it possesses
the attribute P;
S possesses the attribute M ;
Therefore S possesses also the attribute P."
We cannot be sure of the conclusion until we have (in
the minor premise) compared the new case S with the
general statement made in the major premise, and
found their identity in the attribute M. It is entirely
on this identity that the validity of the reasoning
depends;
it is the function of the minor to establish
it. The conclusion, therefore, can only be drawn from
the two premises in combination.
Mill s theory thus contains suggestive hints as to the
nature of the syllogism, but is erroneous in asserting that
the conclusion lies in the major premise alone.
In those cases where the major premise does express
an aggregate of particulars, where it is no more than a
collective statement about a group of facts, and where
the conclusion expresses one of these facts, we anticipate
the conclusion in stating the major premise.
Mill says would be correct about such a syllogism.
And what
But
even in such a case there might be a genuine inference,
a discovery of something not known from either
premise singly. If I learn that the vessel XY was lost
at sea with all on board, and learn subsequently, or by
some other means, that my friend AB was a passenger
on that vessel, then there is no doubt that the con-