Minor: Some birds are flying animals.
Major: No fish is a flying animal.
Conclusion: Some birds are not fish.
The shared predicate “flying animal” is the middle. The minor asserts the existence of at least some birds in that class, while the major excludes all fish from it.
A particular minor does not justify upgrading the conclusion to a universal. This syllogism proves a claim about some birds only.
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The Second Figure: Conditions of Validity and Four Productive Moods
Minor: Some birds are flying animals.
Major: No fish is a flying animal.
Conclusion: Some birds are not fish.
The shared predicate “flying animal” is the middle. The minor asserts the existence of at least some birds in that class, while the major excludes all fish from it.
A particular minor does not justify upgrading the conclusion to a universal. This syllogism proves a claim about some birds only.