Introduction to Philosophy: Overhead

Men are Equal in Mind -- Second Argument (Hobbes P 451ab)

"... wisdom, which almost all men think they have in a greater degree, than the vulgar; that is, than all men but themselves, and a few others ... [T]hey will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves... But this proveth rather that men are in that point equal .... For there is not ordinarily a greater sign of equal distribution of any thing, than that every man is contented with his share."

1. All men are contented with their share of wisdom.
2. If all men are contented with their share of something, then all men have an equal share of that thing.
3. All men have an equal share of wisdom. (1,2)
4. If all men have an equal share of wisdom, then all men are alike in faculties of mind.
5. All men are alike in faculties of mind. (4, 3 MP)

Richard Lee, rlee@uark.edu, last modified: 10 February 2003

	1.	All men are contented with their share of wisdom.
	2.	If all men are contented with their share of something, then all men have an equal share of that thing.
	3.	All men have an equal share of wisdom. (1,2)
	4.	If all men have an equal share of wisdom, then all men are alike in faculties of mind.
	5.	All men are alike in faculties of mind. (4, 3 MP)