LessonsSemantic Fallacies: Defects of Matter, Form, and PredicationQuiz

إما من جهة المادة أو من جهة الصورة
These errors arise either from matter or from form.

A defect of matter concerns the truth or reliability of a premise. A defect of form concerns entailment: even if both premises are granted, does the conclusion have to follow?

Example 1: “Every bird is a fish; every fish is an animal; therefore every bird is an animal.” The pattern can be valid while the first premise is false.
Example 2: “Every pigeon is a bird; every sparrow is a bird; therefore every pigeon is a sparrow.” Both premises can be true while the conclusion fails to follow.

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Matter and form answer different questions

Semantic Fallacies: Defects of Matter, Form, and Predication

إما من جهة المادة أو من جهة الصورة
These errors arise either from matter or from form.

A defect of matter concerns the truth or reliability of a premise. A defect of form concerns entailment: even if both premises are granted, does the conclusion have to follow?

Example 1: “Every bird is a fish; every fish is an animal; therefore every bird is an animal.” The pattern can be valid while the first premise is false.
Example 2: “Every pigeon is a bird; every sparrow is a bird; therefore every pigeon is a sparrow.” Both premises can be true while the conclusion fails to follow.