Question

Define syllogism and state its characteristics.

Hint:

A syllogism is valid when its conclusion logically follows from its premises, considering the distribution of terms.

Answer 1

Syllogism:
A syllogism is a form of deductive reasoning that consists of two premises followed by a conclusion. Each premise and the conclusion are categorical propositions that involve three terms: the major term, the minor term, and the middle term. The middle term connects the major and minor terms in the premises and is not present in the conclusion.
Characteristics of Syllogism:

Three Terms: A syllogism has exactly three terms: the major term, the minor term, and the middle term. The middle term connects the other two.
Two Premises and One Conclusion: A syllogism consists of two premises and a conclusion. The conclusion follows logically from the premises.
Categorical Propositions: Each of the premises and the conclusion is a categorical proposition (e.g., "All men are mortal").
Valid Form: A syllogism is valid if the conclusion logically follows from the premises.
Distribution: In a valid syllogism, at least one of the terms must be distributed in each premise for the conclusion to follow.

Conclusion: A syllogism is a deductive argument consisting of two premises and a conclusion. The key characteristics include the use of three terms, the structure of two premises leading to a conclusion, and the distribution of terms.