Existential import is a concept in logic that addresses the question of whether a universal proposition implies the existence of at least one thing that falls under its subject term.
In other words, it pertains to whether a universal statement acknowledges the existence of individuals that satisfy the conditions described in the proposition.
Traditionally, the Aristotelian view held that universal statements, such as “All S is P,” do not implicitly assume the existence of individuals that belong to the subject class. However, modern logic introduced the concept of existential import, suggesting that universal statements do carry an implicit assumption of the existence of at least one member of the subject class.
The consideration of existential import has implications for the interpretation and validity of categorical syllogisms and logical reasoning in general. It prompts us to examine whether the existence or non-existence of individuals falling under the subject class is consistent with the given propositions.