rhizoverbBeta
DictionarysyllogismTwo-premise argument
noun

syllogism

SIL-uh-jiz-um/ˈsɪlədʒɪzəm/

A logical argument drawing a conclusion from two premises.

A syllogism uses two premises to reach a logical conclusion.

A compact purely geometric logic example: small red circle contained in medium blue circle contained in large pale green circle, alongside three short simple arrows showing the small belongs in the large through the middle.
Etymology
sylGreektogether
+logismGreekto reason, count

The components express “reasoning together”: bringing things together in the mind to reach an inference. In the logical formula, two premises are considered together to yield a conclusion.

In context

MCC East Bay (Muslim Community Center)48:03
here's the basic syllogism premise number one whatever begins to exist has a cause premise number two the universe began to exist therefore the universe has a cause
Does God Exist?: A Muslim’s Response to Atheism | Ustadh Dr. Ali Ate

More examples

  • Her syllogism fails because its first premise is false.
  • We compare two syllogisms that reach the same conclusion.
  • The syllogism runs: All birds have feathers; robins are birds; therefore, robins have feathers.

Forms

syllogism · syllogisms

syllogistic adjective — Using or relating to two-premise logical arguments.

Similar words

deduction
Reasoning from premises, not necessarily limited to exactly two.
inference
A conclusion drawn from evidence, without a fixed argument structure.