If you asked an Aristotelian philosopher whether Carol the grocer was mortal, they would say “Yes.” If you asked them how they knew, they would say “All humans are mortal, Carol is human, therefore Carol is mortal.” Ask them whether it was a guess or a certainty, and they would say it was a certainty (if you asked before the sixteenth century, at least). Ask them how they knew that humans were mortal, and they would say it was established by definition.
I highly doubt that this would be true of typical pre-sixteenth century Aristotelian philosophers. After all, Carol may be an angel or demon pretending to be human.
I highly doubt that this would be true of typical pre-sixteenth century Aristotelian philosophers. After all, Carol may be an angel or demon pretending to be human.