ABSTRACT
In the case of mediate inference with a general middle term, as in the case of mediate inference with a singular middle term, and for the same reasons, when both premises are affirmative the conclusion can only be affirmative. When the middle term is singular it is not necessary to say anything about its distribution, because it is inevitably distributed, as it denotes an individual object and cannot denote less. But the requirement that the middle term should be distributed in at least one of the premises really a rule of all mediate inference so long as numbers or numerical proportions form no part of the data or premises. So long as the middle term is singular both premises must be singular, and therefore the conclusion is usually singular. But when the middle term is general, the premises may be general or particular as well as singular.
