In actual fact it is
exemplified thus: when the earth had been moistened an exhalation
was bound to rise, and when an exhalation had risen cloud was bound to
form, and from the formation of cloud rain necessarily resulted and by
the fall of rain the earth was necessarily moistened: but this was the
starting-point, so that a circle is completed; for posit any one of
the terms and another follows from it, and from that another, and from
that again the first.
Some occurrences are universal (for they are, or come-to-be what
they are, always and in ever case); others again are not always what
they are but only as a general rule: for instance, not every man can
grow a beard, but it is the general rule. In the case of such
connexions the middle term too must be a general rule. For if A is
predicated universally of B and B of C, A too must be predicated
always and in every instance of C, since to hold in every instance and
always is of the nature of the universal. But we have assumed a
connexion which is a general rule; consequently the middle term B must
also be a general rule. So connexions which embody a general rule-i.e.
which exist or come to be as a general rule-will also derive from
immediate basic premisses.
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