(Let C be the moon, B spherical, and A waxing.) Again (b), in cases
where the cause and the effect are not reciprocal and the effect is
the better known, the fact is demonstrated but not the reasoned
fact. This also occurs (1) when the middle falls outside the major and
minor, for here too the strict cause is not given, and so the
demonstration is of the fact, not of the reasoned fact. For example,
the question 'Why does not a wall breathe?' might be answered,
'Because it is not an animal'; but that answer would not give the
strict cause, because if not being an animal causes the absence of
respiration, then being an animal should be the cause of
respiration, according to the rule that if the negation of causes
the non-inherence of y, the affirmation of x causes the inherence of
y; e.g. if the disproportion of the hot and cold elements is the cause
of ill health, their proportion is the cause of health; and
conversely, if the assertion of x causes the inherence of y, the
negation of x must cause y's non-inherence. But in the case given this
consequence does not result; for not every animal breathes. A
syllogism with this kind of cause takes place in the second figure.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55