syllogism

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: syl=lo=gism

CIDE DICTIONARY

syllogism, n. [OE. silogisme, OF. silogime, sillogisme, F. syllogisme, L. syllogismus, Gr. syllogismo`s a reckoning all together, a reasoning, syllogism, fr. syllogi`zesqai to reckon all together, to bring at once before the mind, to infer, conclude; sy`n with, together + logi`zesqai to reckon, to conclude by reasoning. See Syn-, and Logistic, Logic.].

 The regular logical form of every argument, consisting of three propositions, of which the first two are called the premises, and the last, the conclusion. The conclusion necessarily follows from the premises; so that, if these are true, the conclusion must be true, and the argument amounts to demonstration
" If the premises are not true and the syllogism is regular, the reasoning is valid, and the conclusion, whether true or false, is correctly derived."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

syllogism, n.
1 a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions (premisses): a common or middle term is present in the two premisses but not in the conclusion, which may be invalid (e.g. all trains are long; some buses are long; therefore some buses are trains: the common term is long).
2 deductive reasoning as distinct from induction.

Derivative

syllogistic adj. syllogistically adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF silogisme or L syllogismus f. Gk sullogismos f. sullogizomai (as SYN-, logizomai to reason f. logos reason)

DEVIL DICTIONARY

syllogism

n. A logical formula consisting of a major and a minor assumption and an inconsequent. (See LOGIC.)

THESAURUS

syllogism

Aristotelian sorites, Baconian method, Goclenian sorites, a fortiori reasoning, a posteriori reasoning, a priori reasoning, analysis, categorical syllogism, deduction, deductive reasoning, dilemma, enthymeme, epagoge, figure, generalization, hypothesis and verification, induction, inductive reasoning, inference, mode, modus tollens, mood, paralogism, particularization, philosophical induction, prosyllogism, pseudosyllogism, rule, rule of deduction, sorites, syllogistic reasoning, synthesis

ROGET THESAURUS

syllogism

Reasoning,

N reasoning ratiocination rationalism, dialectics, induction, generalization, discussion, comment, ventilation, inquiry, argumentation, controversy, debate, polemics, wrangling, contention, logomachy, disputation, disceptation, paper war, art of reasoning, logic, process of reasoning, train of reasoning, chain of reasoning, deduction, induction, abduction, synthesis, analysis, argument, case, plaidoyer, opening, lemma, proposition, terms, premises, postulate, data, starting point, principle, inference, prosyllogism, syllogism, enthymeme, sorites, dilemma, perilepsis, a priori reasoning, reductio ad absurdum, horns of a dilemma, argumentum ad hominem, comprehensive argument, empirema, epagoge, reasoner, logician, dialectician, disputant, controversialist, controvertist, wrangler, arguer, debater polemic, casuist, rationalist, scientist, eristic, logical sequence, good case, correct just reasoning, sound reasoning, valid reasoning, cogent reasoning, logical reasoning, forcible reasoning, persuasive reasoning, persuasory reasoning, consectary reasoning, conclusive, subtle reasoning, force of argument, strong point, strong argument, persuasive argument, arguments, reasons, pros and cons, reasoning, rationalistic, argumentative, controversial, dialectic, polemical, discursory, discursive, disputatious, Aristotelian, eristic, eristical, debatable, controvertible, logical, relevant, for, because, hence, whence, seeing that, since, sith, then thence so, for that reason, for this reason, for which reason, for as, inasmuch as, whereas, ex concesso, considering, in consideration of, therefore, wherefore, consequently, ergo, thus, accordingly, a fortiori, in conclusion, in fine, finally, after all, au bout du compt, on the whole, taking one thing with another, ab actu ad posse valet consecutio, per troppo dibatter la verita si perde, troppo disputare la verita fa errare.