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existential import

Whether a statement commits you to its subject class having members.

A categorical statement has existential import if it can be true only when its subject class has at least one member. On the Boolean reading, I and O statements have existential import and A and E statements do not.

Examples

  • "Some dragons breathe fire" can only be true if there are dragons.

  • "All trespassers will be fined" can be true even if nobody trespasses.

See also

Boolean interpretation square of opposition
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