Definition:Particular Negative

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Definition

A particular negative is a categorical statement of the form:

Some $S$ is not $P$

where $S$ and $P$ are predicates.


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

$\exists x: \map S x \land \neg \map P x$


Its meaning can be amplified in natural language as:

There exists at least one object with the property of being $S$ which does not have the quality of being $P$.


Set Theoretic interpretation of Particular Negative

The particular negative $\exists x: \map S x \land \neg \map P x$ can be expressed in set language as:

$\set {x: \map S x} \cap \set {x: \neg \map P x} \ne \O$

or, more compactly:

$S \cap \map \complement P \ne \O$


Also denoted as

Traditional logic abbreviated the particular negative as $\mathbf O$.

Thus, when examining the categorical syllogism, the particular negative $\exists x: \map S x \land \neg \map P x$ is often abbreviated:

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


Also see

  • Results about the particular negative can be found here.


Linguistic Note

The abbreviation $\mathbf O$ for a particular negative originates from the second vowel in the Latin word negO, meaning I deny.


Sources