Subalternation

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Subalternation [1] [2] is an immediate inference which is only made between A (All S are P) and I (Some S are P) categorical propositions and between E (No S are P or originally, No S is P) and O (Some S are not P or originally, Not every S is P) categorical propositions of the traditional square of opposition and the original square of opposition. [3] If the A proposition is true we may immediately infer that I is true. If the E proposition is true we may immediately infer that O is true. Conversely, If the I is false, we can immediately infer that A is also false, as well as if O is false, then E is false. However, if the A proposition is false that will not tell us anything about the truth value of the I proposition. Similarly, if the E proposition is false, that will not tell us anything about the truth value of the O proposition.

An example of a subalternation is "If all leopards are mammals, then some leopards are mammals."

When the inference is misapplied, the syllogistic fallacy is called an illicit subalternation.

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References

  1. Hurley, Patrick (1991). A Concise Introduction to Logic 4th edition . Wadsworth Publishing. p. 192.
  2. Copi, Irving M.; Cohen, Carl (2005). Introduction to Logic. Prentice Hall. p. 189.
  3. Parsons, Terence (2012). "The Traditional Square of Opposition". In Edward N. Zalta (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2012 ed.). 3-4.