Lewis_Powell comments on Empty Labels - Less Wrong

16 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 14 February 2008 11:50PM

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Comment author: Lewis_Powell 01 June 2008 06:50:52AM 3 points [-]

I don't think mortal is included in the definition of human.

Shouldn't the syllogism be rendered:

All [~feathers, bipedal] are mortal. Socrates is a [~feathers, bipedal]. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

Which is at least a little bit more interesting than you've indicated.

Compare also Mill's discussion of finding out that diamonds are combustible from "A System of Logic"