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Fallacy of the Four Terms
(quaternio terminorum)
Definition:
Examples:
- All dogs are animals, and all cats are mammals,
so all dogs are mammals.
- The four terms are: dogs, animals, cats and mammals.
- Note:In many cases, the fallacy of four terms is a
special case of equivocation. While the
same word is used, the word has different meanings,
and hence the word is treated as two different terms. Consider the
following example:
- Only man is born free, and no women are men,
therefore, no women are born free.
- The four terms are: man (in the sense of 'humanity'), man (in the
sense of 'male'), women and born free.
Proof:
Identify the four terms and where necessary state the meaning
of each term.
References:
26 May 1995
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