Problem of multiple generality

The problem of multiple generality names a failure in traditional logic to describe certain intuitively valid inferences. For example, it is intuitively clear that if: Some cat is feared by every mouse then it follows logically that: All mice are afraid of at least one cat Some As are BsAll Cs are Ds which is clearly invalid. Using modern predicate calculus, we quickly discover that the statement is ambiguous. Some cat is feared by every mouse could mean (Some cat is feared) by every mouse, i.e. For every mouse m, there exists a cat c, such that c is feared by m,

Problem of multiple generality

The problem of multiple generality names a failure in traditional logic to describe certain intuitively valid inferences. For example, it is intuitively clear that if: Some cat is feared by every mouse then it follows logically that: All mice are afraid of at least one cat Some As are BsAll Cs are Ds which is clearly invalid. Using modern predicate calculus, we quickly discover that the statement is ambiguous. Some cat is feared by every mouse could mean (Some cat is feared) by every mouse, i.e. For every mouse m, there exists a cat c, such that c is feared by m,