e. by premising (1) that
its definable form is constituted by the 'peculiar' attributes of
its essential nature; (2) that such and such are the only attributes
of its essential nature, and that the complete synthesis of them is
peculiar to the thing; and thus-since in this synthesis consists the
being of the thing-obtaining our conclusion? Or is the truth that,
since proof must be through the middle term, the definable form is
once more assumed in this minor premiss too?
Further, just as in syllogizing we do not premise what syllogistic
inference is (since the premisses from which we conclude must be
related as whole and part), so the definable form must not fall within
the syllogism but remain outside the premisses posited. It is only
against a doubt as to its having been a syllogistic inference at all
that we have to defend our argument as conforming to the definition of
syllogism. It is only when some one doubts whether the conclusion
proved is the definable form that we have to defend it as conforming
to the definition of definable form which we assumed. Hence
syllogistic inference must be possible even without the express
statement of what syllogism is or what definable form is.
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