A syllogism is a difficult word, but the definition is actually very simple. Syllogisms are part of the philosophy subject. A detailed explanation of the definition and operation of syllogisms is described here.
What is a syllogism?
A syllogism is a form of argument that consists of three parts: a major premise, minor premise and a conclusion. By checking the validity of the premises, one can draw a conclusion or see whether the conclusion reached is true or not. This will probably still be very confusing, but after reading this article everything will become clear.
Construction of a syllogism
- Majorpremise
- Minor premise
- Conclusion
Majorpremise
A (compelling) statement is made here, this could be anything. A major premise is most convincing in a compelling form, with compelling meaning that a statement is made about the whole. Signal words of an imperative statement can be: everything, never, every, every. An entire group is clearly indicated here.
Example: all Dutch people are mortal
Minor premise
Here a statement is made on the basis of the Major premise. The sentence that fits here (which makes it a bit easier to understand): If that is true (the major premise), then this (the minor premise) must also be true. One looks for a similarity between the two statements (premises) and puts this in context, which is also called a syllogism if a conclusion is drawn from it.
Example: I am Dutch
Conclusion
Here a conclusion is drawn based on the two premises. The premises may be valid and/or true. There is a very big difference between truth and validity, this is also the difficulty of a syllogism.
Example: I am mortal
Validity versus truth
There is a difference between validity and truth.
- Validity says something about the connection between two premises, is this connection correct or incorrect?
- Truth says something about the truth of the premises, are these statements true or false?
A syllogism can therefore be valid, but is not automatically true. Validity says nothing about the connection between statements and reality. And truth does exactly this, when one checks a syllogism for truth, it is checked whether the statements are true or not.
Examples
Here are some examples of syllogisms
- Major premise: All animals are immortal
- Minor premise: I am an animal
- Conclusion: I am immortal
- Valid reasoning? Yes
- True premises? No
- True conclusion? No
- Major premise: everyone who reads this is called Piet
- Minor premise: my name is Piet
- Conclusion: I read this
- Valid reasoning? No
- True premises? No
- True conclusion? No
- Major premise: everyone who reads this is alive
- Minor premise: I read this
- Conclusion: I’m alive
- Valid reasoning? Yes
- True premises? Yes
- True conclusion? Yes
Resume
- If the reasoning is valid and all premises are true, then the well-formulated conclusion cannot be challenged. In all other cases yes.
- Truth is different from validity.
- A valid argument plus true premises leads to a true conclusion.
- A valid argument can consist of false premises and a false conclusion.
- A true conclusion can be obtained from false premises.