Fallacy of Four Terms/Examples/Arbitrary Example 1
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Examples of Fallacy of Four Terms
The following is an example of the fallacy of four terms:
- $(3): \quad$ Therefore, brass is an element.
Resolution
It is common to refer to an alloy as an example of a metal.
That is how the word metal is used in $(2)$.
However, when used in $(1)$, the word metal is being used in its exclusive sense, that is, metals which are elements.
Hence there are $4$ terms in the syllogism:
- metal, in the true sense
- Chemical element
- Brass
- metal, in the sense which includes alloys.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): fallacy