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| | A '''syllogism''' is a [[logic]]al [[argument]] that necessarily follows if two [[premise]]s are true. | | A '''syllogism''' is a [[logic]]al [[argument]] that necessarily follows if two [[premise]]s are true. |
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| − | "All cats are mammals." | + | :"All cats are mammals." |
| − | "Fluffy is a cat." | + | :"Roger is a cat." |
| − | Therefore | + | :Therefore |
| − | Fluffy is a mammal.
| + | :Roger is a mammal. |
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| | As [[linguistic]] tools, syllogisms are built from category words such as "all" "none" "some". | | As [[linguistic]] tools, syllogisms are built from category words such as "all" "none" "some". |
| − | "No conservative voted for Obama" | + | :"No conservative voted for Obama" |
| − | "Andy is a conservative" | + | :"Andy is a conservative" |
| − | therefore, "Andy did not vote for Obama". | + | :therefore, |
| | + | :"Andy did not vote for Obama". |
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| | One has to be careful, however, what categories are applied and assumed. | | One has to be careful, however, what categories are applied and assumed. |
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| − | "No conservative voted for Obama" | + | :"No conservative voted for Obama" |
| − | "John did not vote for Obama" | + | :"John did not vote for Obama" |
| − | Therefore | + | :Therefore |
| − | "John is a conservative." is an example of an incorrect syllogism, as the exclusive category "no Conservative" does not rule out other people not voting for Obama. | + | :"John is a conservative." is an example of an incorrect syllogism, as the exclusive category "no Conservative" does not rule out other people not voting for Obama. |
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| − | [[Category: Logic]] | + | ==External links== |
| | + | *[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-logic/ Aristotle's Logic] - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy |
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| | + | [[Category:Logic]] |