A syllogism is a valid deductive argument in which there are two premises (one major and one minor) and a conclusion. If the premises are true and do not contradict each other, then the conclusion is valid.
Why is this important? For many reasons, but if we could isolate one, it would be that a syllogism makes one conscious of premises and how they are related. One learns to reason more carefully and precisely. A syllogism is an expression and exercise of deductive reasoning, one idea leading from another to a conclusion. There are other kinds of syllogisms, and one can begin a long walk down the varied history and different forms of Logic in pursuing this topic. At the end of the corridor would be Aristotle, the tutor of Alexander the Great.
For this week's entry on the TOK blog, please formulate a correct syllogism and post it in the Comments.
Major premise: All books from that store are new.
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: These books are from that store.
Conclusion: Therefore, these books are new.
Major premise: All tables have legs.
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: I have legs.
Conclusion: I am a table.
Major premise: All trees have bark.
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: Oaks have bark.
Conclusion: Therefore, Oaks are trees.
Major premise: All animals have a mouth
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: I have a mouth
Conclusion: I am an animal
Major Premise: Employers hire diligent people
ReplyDeleteMinor Premise: He is diligent
Conclusion: He will be hired.
Major Premise: Smoking may cause lung cancer.
ReplyDeleteMinor Premise: He is a smoker.
Conclusion: He may suffer from lung cancer.
Major Premise: All living organisms need water.
ReplyDeleteMinor Premise: Human beings need water.
Conclusion: Human beings are living organisms.
Major Premise: Some sticky substances can be disgusting.
ReplyDeleteMinor Premise: All bubblegum is sticky.
Conclusion: Therefore bubblegum can be disgusting.
Major premise: Clapton has a huge jaw.
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: That kid over there has a huge jaw.
Conclusion; Therefore that kid is Clapton.
This is proof that goes to show how ridiculous syllogisms are in MANY cases DOC.
I didn't understand you needed an account to contribute doc so I had been commenting somehow but not really. Do you get it?
You know what? I'll post a sensible one.
ReplyDeleteMajor premise: Legends may be stories.
Minor premise: King Arthur of the Round Table is a legend.
Conclusion: King Arthur of the Round table may be a story.
Major premise: leaves can be green
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: the leaf next to me is brown
Conclusion: the leaf next to me can be green
Major premise: Mammmals are warm blooded
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: whales are warm blooded
Conclusion: Whales are mammals
Major premise: Naziskins shave their heads
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: Britney Spears shaved her head
Conclusion: Britney Spears is a Naziskin
Major Premise:All living things breathe.
ReplyDeleteMInor Premise:I am a living thing.
Conclusino:Therefore i breathe.
Major Premise: All rabbits hop around in the grass
ReplyDeleteMinor Premise: My little cousin hops around in the grass
Conclusion: Therefore, my little cousin must be a rabbit.
Major premise: All soldiers train.
ReplyDeleteMinor premise: My friend is a soldier.
Conclusion: Therefore, my friend trains.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMajor premise: All animals eat
ReplyDeleteMinor Premise: I eat
Conclusion: Therefore, I am an animal
Ginevra Pier