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Definition:
A standard form categorical syllogism contains four terms.
Examples:
(i) 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:
(ii) 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.
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