syllogism

[sil-uh-jiz-uh m] /ˈsɪl əˌdʒɪz əm/
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.
Origin
1350-1400; < Latin syllogismus < Greek syllogismós, equivalent to syllog- (see syllogize) + -ismos -ism; replacing Middle English silogime < Old French < Latin, as above
Examples from the web for syllogism
  • His reasoning is based upon an unconvincing syllogism.
  • How people act and how they are influenced should be deduced from observation of their behavior and not by the use of a syllogism.
  • The fire officer of this age is one of management, performance, syllogism.
  • The provost, in his letter of invitation, puts forth an intriguing syllogism.
British Dictionary definitions for syllogism

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
Word Origin
C14: via Latin from Greek sullogismos, from sullogizesthai to reckon together, from sul-syn- + logizesthai to calculate, from logos a discourse
Word Origin and History for syllogism
n.

late 14c., from Old French silogisme "a syllogism," from Latin syllogismus, from Greek syllogismos "a syllogism," originally "inference, conclusion, computation, calculation," from syllogizesthai "bring together, premise, conclude," literally "think together," from syn- "together" (see syn-) + logizesthai "to reason, count," from logos "a reckoning, reason" (see logos).

syllogism in Technology


/sil'oh-jiz`*m/ Deductive reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises. The conclusion necessarily follows from the premises so that, if these are true, the conclusion must be true, and the syllogism amounts to demonstration. To put it another way, the premises imply the conclusion.
For example, every virtue is laudable; kindness is a virtue; therefore kindness is laudable.
Strangely, a syllogism can still be true if the premises are false. Compare inference rule.
[Relationship between premises?]
(2009-10-28)