Definition:Universal Negative

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Definition

A universal negative is a categorical statement of the form:

No $S$ is $P$

where $S$ and $P$ are predicates.


In the language of predicate logic, this can be expressed as:

$\forall x: \map S x \implies \neg \map P x$


Its meaning can be amplified in natural language as:

Given any arbitrary object, if it has the property of being $S$, then it does not have the quality of being $P$.


Set Theoretic interpretation of Universal Negative

The universal negative $\forall x: \map S x \implies \neg \map P x$ can be expressed in set language as:

$\set {x: \map S x} \implies \set {x: \map P x} = \O$

or, more compactly:

$S \subseteq \map \complement P$


Also denoted as

Traditional logic abbreviated the universal negative as $\mathbf E$.

Thus, when examining the categorical syllogism, the universal negative $\forall x: \map S x \implies \neg \map P x$ is often abbreviated:

$\map {\mathbf E} {S, P}$


Also see

  • Results about the universal negative can be found here.


Linguistic Note

The abbreviation $\mathbf E$ for a universal negative originates from the first vowel in the Latin word nEgo, meaning I deny.


Sources