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Syllogism

In logic, a syllogism is a valid, three-step argument of the form:

[Statement A].
[Statement B].
Therefore, [Statement C].

Forms of syllogism:

The Aristotle wrote the classic "Barbara" syllogism:

If all humans (B's) are mortal (A),
and all Greeks (C's) are humans (B's),
then all Greeks (C's) are mortal (A).

That is,

Men die.
Socrates is a man.
Socrates will die.

Metaphor, in contrast, resembles a form of syllogism called “Affirming the Consequent”:

Grass dies.
Men die.
Men are grass.

A Barbara syllogism involves Grammar and Logical Types; it has a subject and a predicate. Affirming the Consequent, the basis of metaphor, is grammatically symmetrical: it equates two predicates. This form of syllogism is logically invalid.

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Epagoge are weak syllogisms that rely on inductive reasoning.

See also:



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