| 释义 |
syllogism|ˈsɪlədʒɪz(ə)m|
Forms: 4 silogime, 4–6 silogisme, 5–6 sylogysme, 5–7 sillogisme, 6 silogysme, sellogisme, 6–7 syllogisme, sylogisme, 7 sillogism, 7– syllogism. Also 6 in Lat. form syllogismus (sill-, sil-).
[a. OF. silogime, later sil(l)ogisme, F. syllogisme (= It. sillo-, silogismo, Sp. silogismo, Pg. syllogismo), or ad. L. syllogismus, a. Gr. συλλογισµός, f. συλλογίζεσθαι to syllogize.]
1. Logic. An argument expressed or claimed to be expressible in the form of two propositions called the premisses, containing a common or middle term, with a third proposition called the conclusion, resulting necessarily from the other two. Example: Omne animal est substantia, omnis homo est animal, ergo omnis homo est substantia.
The kind of syllogism illustrated by the above example is called simple or categorical. In valid categorical syllogisms, the premisses have the major and minor terms so disposed in respect of the position of the middle (see figure n. 23) and the quality and quantity of the premisses (see mood n.2 1) that the conclusion affirms or denies the major term of the minor.
For hypothetical (also called complex), conjunctive, connexive, disjunctive syllogism, see these words. demonstrative syllogism: one in which the premisses are true and necessary. † horned syllogism (see horned 1 b): the dilemma.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xix. cxxvi. (1495) mm b/2 Without nombre is not..Subiectum knowe fro the Predicatum: nother the conclusyon in Silogismes [orig. in sillogisticis] is distyngued fro the premysses. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. xix. (1869) 14 If ye wol eyther make jugementes, silogismes, other argumentes with oute me, shule ye neuere haue conclusioun. c1480Henryson Mor. Fab. Prol. vii, Ane sillogisme propone and eik conclude. 1528More Dyaloge i. Wks. 125/2 Well quod I and yet he commeth to hys perswasion by a sylogysme & reasonninge, almost as formall as is the argument, by whiche ye proue the kinde of man reasonable, wherof what other colleccion haue you that brought you first to perceiue it than that this man is resonable, and this man, & this man, and this man, and so forth all whom ye se. 1530Tindale Answ. More i. xxvii. Wks. (1572) 288/1, I would fayne know in what figure that silogismus is made. 1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 504/1 This sillogisme is mine. And thys sillogisme yf Tindall would fayne wit in what figure it is made: he shal finde it in the first figure, and the third mode, sauing that y⊇ mynor carieth his proofe wt him, which woulde elles in the same figure and the same mode haue made another sillogisme. 1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 90 b, marg., A syllogisme, is a perfecte argumente of logike, in whiche, two thynges or moo, first putte, & the same graunted, the conclusion dooeth ineuitably foloe of necessitee. c1590Marlowe Faustus 140, I that haue with Consis sylogismes Graueld the Pastors of the Germane Church. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Ch. Mil. 55 Prayers chas'd syllogismes into their den, And Ergo was transform'd into Amen. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. vi. i. 275 Men do speak..in simple tearms and words, expressing the open notions of things, which the second act of reason compoundeth into propositions, and the last into syllogisms and forms of ratiocination. 1649Evelyn Liberty & Servitude ii, Certaine it is, that our understanding cannot always impedite itselfe, that it should not acquiesce at the Conclusion of a demonstrative syllogisme, having before comprehended the first and second propositions. 1691Norris Pract. Disc. 143 The Sum of the whole may be reduced to this practical Syllogism. That which will bring a man peace at the last, is to be chiefly minded: But a Life of Piety and Vertue will bring a man Peace at the last. Therefore a Life of Piety and Vertue is to be chiefly minded. 1748W. Duncan Elem. Logic iii. i. (1752) 194 As every Act of Reasoning implies three several Judgments, so every Syllogism must include three distinct Propositions. 1781Cowper Conversat. 93 Though syllogisms hang not on my tongue, I am not surely always in the wrong! 1827Huyshe Logic 85 A syllogism is an argument in which the terms are so placed with respect to each other, that the conclusion results necessarily from the premises, from the mere force of the expression, and without any consideration of the meaning of the terms themselves. 1830Scott Demonol. ix. 306 The pedantic sovereign considered the execution of every witch who was burnt as a necessary conclusion of his own royal syllogisms. 1833Sir W. Hamilton in Edin. Rev. LVII. 220 Hypothetical syllogisms, in the present acceptation, were first expounded, and the name first applied to them by Theophrastus and Eudemus. 1840Macaulay Ess., Clive (1843) III. 201 Here the House stopped. They had voted the major and minor of Burgoyne's syllogism; but they shrank from drawing the logical conclusion. 1850Kingsley Alton Locke xxxviii, The unconscious logic of association is often deeper and truer than any syllogism. 1892J. Tait Mind in Matter (ed. 3) 312 The ‘fool’ who said in his heart that ‘there was no God’ no doubt thought he had wiped Him out by a syllogism.
b. transf. and allusively. An argument or something ironically or humorously regarded as such, esp. a specious or subtle argument or piece of reasoning; † in early use, a subtle or tricky speech; a poser; more widely, an artifice, trick.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 371 He coude what hym nedede for to konne, outake fables and poetes, and wily and sly silogismes, þat he wolde nouȝt on caas vouchesauf forto lerne. 1390Gower Conf. III. 366, I syh there Aristotle also, Whom that the queene of Grece so Hath bridled, that in thilke time Sche made him such a Silogime, That he foryat al his logique. c1400Rom. Rose 4457 Whanne she wole make A fulle good silogisme, I dreede That aftirward ther shal in deede Folwe an evelle conclusioun. 1402Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 63 Go grees a shoep undir the taile, that semeth the beter than with sotil sillogismes to parbrake thi witt. 1484Caxton Fables of æsop v. xiv, Thow hast not yet wel studyed, and knowest not yet the Sylogysmes. 1591Greene Farew. Folly Wks. (Grosart) IX. 251 Measure not the length of an other mans foot by your owne shoe, but ioine the souldier and scholler in one sillogisme, and then the premises equall, conclude how you list. 1860Motley Netherl. I. viii. 501 An absolute sovereign, even without resorting to Philip's syllogisms of axe and faggot, was apt in the sixteenth century to have the best of an argument with private individuals. 1879Farrar St. Paul I. 225 They took refuge in what St. Chrysostom calls ‘the syllogism of violence’.
2. In generalized sense: The form of such arguments, or argumentation in that form; the form or instrument of reasoning from generals to particulars. Also, as a mental act: mediate inference or deduction (as distinguished from immediate inference and induction).
1588Fraunce Lawiers Logike i. ii. 7 Questions..to be concluded by syllogisme, the onely iudge of all coherence or consequence. 1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1356 Of the present dependeth all Syllogisme and reasoning, and that by the vertue & efficacie of a conjunction: for that if this thing be, such a thing went before: and conversim, if this be; that shall be. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xiii. §4. 50 b, Certaine it is, that Middle Propositions, cannot be diduced from them [sc. some axioms] in Subiect of Nature by Syllogisme, that is, by Touch and Reduction of them to Principles in a Middle Terme. Ibid. ii. xiv §12. 57 b, There beeing but foure kindes of demonstrations, that is by the immediate consent of the Minde or Sence; by Induction; by Syllogisme; and by Congruitie. 1690Locke Hum. Und. iv. xvii. §4 We reason best and clearest, when we only observe the connexion of the Proofs, without reducing it to any Rule of Syllogism. Ibid. §6 A Man knows first, and then he is able to prove syllogistically. So that Syllogism comes after Knowledge, and then a Man has little or no need of it. 1704Norris Ideal World ii. Pref. 8 What is syllogism but only a more recollected and express way of reasoning, the putting together of all the parts of an argument, and nothing but those parts, and that in their due form and order? 1774Reid Aristotle's Log. Wks. (1846) 712/1 In reasoning by syllogism from general principles, we descend to a conclusion virtually contained in them. The process of induction is more arduous, being an ascent from particular premises to a general conclusion. 1821Aldrich's Artis Logicæ Rudim. (ed. 2) 110 The office of syllogism is not the discovery, but the application of truth; it consists in the practical use of knowledge, rather than the primary acquisition of it. 1843Mill Logic ii. i. I. 223 Reasoning, in the extended sense in which I use the term, and in which it is synonymous with Inference, is popularly said to be of two kinds: reasoning from particulars to generals, and reasoning from generals to particulars; the former being called Induction, the latter Ratiocination or Syllogism. 1867Fowler Deduct. Logic iii. iii. 80 (heading) On Mediate Inference or Syllogism. 1870Jevons Elem. Logic xv. 127 Syllogism may thus be defined as the act of thought by which from two given propositions we proceed to a third proposition. 1877E. Caird Philos. Kant i. 134 Syllogism is just the activity of thought whereby a judgment is made complete, as judgment is the activity of thought whereby a conception is made distinct. |