Distribution of terms
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In scholastic logic, the distribution of terms (distributio terminorum) in its earliest use is the prefixing of a universal quantifier. Peter of Spain says that distribution is "the multiplication of a common term brought about by a universal sign, for example when we say 'every man runs', the term 'man' is distributed or co-founded for any of its inferiors by the sign 'every', and so multiplication happens in that case"[1].
The fallacy of undistributed middle is when the middle term in a categorical syllogism is not distributed in the minor premise or the major premiss.
See also
References
- Kneale & Kneale 1962 p. 272 (Proprietates Terminorum)
Notes
- ↑ Summulae Logicales, ed. Bochenski 12.01
