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Definition:
The issue of distribution is vital when evaluating categorical propositions. Distribution is an attribute
of the terms in a proposition, not of the proposition as a whole like quantity and quality. When a term
is distributed, that means that it says something about every member of the class denoted by that
term. When a term is not distributed, that means that it says something about only some
members of the class denoted by that term. For example:
1. All cats are mammals.
2. Some trees are mammals.
In the first proposition, the term "cats" says something about every member of the class "cats," therefore it is distributed. However, the term "mammals" says something about only some of the members of the class "mammals" (namely, that some of them are cats). Therefore, it is not distributed.
In the second proposition, the term "trees" says something about only some members about the class "trees" - therefore, it is not distributed. The predicate term is also not distributed, for the same reason as in the previous example.
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Related Resources:
What is the Logic and the Philosophy of Language?
The two fields Logic and the Philosophy of Language are often treated separately, but they are nevertheless close enough that they are presented together here. Logic is the study of methods of reasoning and argumentation, both proper and improper. The Philosophy of Language, on the other hand, involves the study of how our language interacts with our thinking.What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? Is there any point in studying philosophy, or is it a useless subject? What are the different branches of philosophy - what's the difference between aestheitcs and ethics? What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
