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View synonyms for syllogism

syllogism

[ sil-uh-jiz-uhm ]

noun

  1. Logic. an argument the conclusion of which is supported by two premises, of which one major premise contains the term major term that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other minor premise contains the term minor term that is the subject of the conclusion; common to both premises is a term middle term that is excluded from the conclusion. A typical form is “All A is C; all B is A; therefore all B is C.”
  2. deductive reasoning.
  3. an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument.


syllogism

/ ˈsɪləˌdʒɪzəm /

noun

  1. a deductive inference consisting of two premises and a conclusion, all of which are categorial propositions. The subject of the conclusion is the minor term and its predicate the major term; the middle term occurs in both premises but not the conclusion. There are 256 such arguments but only 24 are valid. Some men are mortal; some men are angelic; so some mortals are angelic is invalid, while some temples are in ruins; all ruins are fascinating; so some temples are fascinating is valid. Here fascinating, in ruins, and temples are respectively major, middle, and minor terms
  2. a deductive inference of certain other forms with two premises, such as the hypothetical syllogism, if P then Q; if Q then R; so if P then R
  3. a piece of deductive reasoning from the general to the particular
  4. a subtle or deceptive piece of reasoning
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of syllogism1

1350–1400; < Latin syllogismus < Greek syllogismós, equivalent to syllog- ( syllogize ) + -ismos -ism; replacing Middle English silogime < Old French < Latin, as above
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Word History and Origins

Origin of syllogism1

C14: via Latin from Greek sullogismos, from sullogizesthai to reckon together, from sul- syn- + logizesthai to calculate, from logos a discourse
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Example Sentences

Of course, “No means Yes” is a novel logical syllogism, but anything is possible.

This seems like an example of my favorite policy syllogism: 1.

There's a terrible syllogism that tends to follow on tragedies like this:   1.

I thought I would be protected by historical precision, reputation, syllogism and sincerity.

It is rarely the case in literature that the syllogism is fully stated: generally one of the premises is omitted.

If the major premise of this syllogism be granted, the conclusion is unquestionable.

However, if this were put into a syllogism, it would read as follows: All persons who do wrong pay the penalty soon.

Whatever can be proved at all can be reduced to a syllogism but agreement upon premises is in this case impossible.

But Aquinas, with his Aristotelian method of syllogism and definitions, could not go beyond Augustine.

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syllepsissyllogist