Handbook of the History of Logic: - Fordham University Faculty

160 Terence Parsons
“Some categorical propositions are universal, some particular, some
indefinite, and some singular.
A universal proposition is that in which a common term determined
by a universal sign is subject, as ‘every man runs’; or, a universal
proposition is that in which something is signified to be in all or none.
A common term is what is apt by nature to be predicated of many,
‘man’ of Socrates and Plato and of each and every other man. These
are universal signs: ‘every’, ‘no’, ‘nothing’, ‘any’, ‘either’, ‘neither’,
and similars.
A particular proposition is that in which a common term determined
by a particular sign is subject, as ‘some man runs’. These are
particular signs: ‘some’, ‘a certain’, ‘the one’, ‘the other’, and similars.
An indefinite proposition is that in which a common term without
a sign is subject, as ‘[a] man runs’.
A singular proposition is that in which a singular term or a common
term joined with a demonstrative pronoun is subject, as ‘Socrates runs’
or ‘this man runs’; . . .
A singular term is what is apt by nature to be predicated of one
alone. 4
Some categorical propositions are affirmative, some negative. An affirmative
is that in which the predicate is affirmed of the subject, as
‘A man runs’. A negative is one in which the predicate is removed
from the subject, as ‘A man does not run’.”
The theory is primarily applied to eight forms of propositions, classified with
respect to Quantity (Universal, Particular, Indefinite, Singular) and Quality (Affirmative,
Negative). Some examples are:
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE
SINGULAR Socrates is [an] animal Socrates is not [an] animal
UNIVERSAL Every animal is [a] donkey No animal is [a] donkey
PARTICULAR Some animal is [a] donkey Some animal is not [a] donkey
INDEFINITE [An] animal is [a] donkey [An] animal is not [a] donkey
I call these eight forms “standard” categorical propositions, to distinguish them
from extended forms to be discussed later.
4 Medieval authors also call singular terms ‘discrete’ terms.