What is a syllogism?

A syllogism is a type of argument that uses deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more premises that are assumed to be true. It typically follows a structured format, where the first premise provides a general statement, the second premise offers a specific instance related to that generalization, and the conclusion logically follows from those premises.

For example, if one premise states that all humans are mortal and the second premise states that Socrates is a human, the conclusion drawn using deductive reasoning is that Socrates is mortal. This logical structure is a hallmark of syllogistic reasoning. The emphasis on deductive reasoning distinguishes syllogisms from other forms of argumentation or rhetorical techniques.