What is a Categorical Syllogism?
A categorical syllogism is a form of deductive reasoning consisting of three statements: two premises and one conclusion. Each statement is a categorical proposition, and the syllogism follows a fixed logical structure.
Structure
- Major Premise: Contains the major term (predicate of the conclusion).
- Minor Premise: Contains the minor term (subject of the conclusion).
- Conclusion: Connects the subject and predicate.
Example
Major Premise: All humans are mortal.
Minor Premise: Socrates is a human.
Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
Types of Propositions
Each statement can be of type A (All S are P), E (No S are P), I (Some S are P), or O (Some S are not P).
Importance
Categorical syllogisms help structure logical arguments and evaluate reasoning. They are a foundational concept in classical logic and philosophy.