a. The nature and meaning of syllogism.

Answer: A syllogism (Greek: syllogismos, 'conclusion, inference') is a type of logical argument that uses
deductive reasoning to reach a conclusion based on the truth of two propositions. You must accept the
given propositions as true, even if they alter established facts. A syllogism's reasoning consists of three
components: the antecedent, or previously known truth; the conclusion, or new truth; and the mind's
inference connecting these two. The antecedent in a syllogism is built up of statements termed
premises, which are typically two in number. (wikipedia.com, hitbullseye.com, encyclopedia.com)
b. What is the significance of the study of syllogism? Prove your answer.
The most common technique of organizing premises into a good argument is syllogisms. It improves the
person's logical reasoning skills and helps them to reach conclusions using logical ability. It is a great
method for allowing individuals to interact with difficulties and come up with logical solutions. Whether
used to clarify a simple or complex topic, a syllogism can help make a logical argument sound
unarguable. The syllogism combines the judgment and the notion into one. It is notion, the simple
identity into which the judgment's form distinctions have subsided. It is judgment because it is set in
reality at the same moment, that is, put in the distinction of its terms. All reasonable things follow from
the syllogism. (teachmint.com, litfacts.com, marxists.org)
c. How can we determine the validity of syllogism? support your answer with the necessary principles or
laws.
A syllogism is valid (or logical) when its conclusion flows from its premises. A syllogism is true when it
makes correct assertions - that is, when the information it includes is consistent with the facts. A
syllogism must be both valid and true in order to be sound. Yet, a syllogism might be valid without being
true or true without being valid. We must remember that the argument can only be valid if both
premises are true. A syllogism might assert that all birds can fly, penguins are birds, and hence penguins
can fly. Although the argument is theoretically good, it contains a faulty premise (all birds can fly),
rendering it unsound. (thedecisionlab.com)
Now we can state the rules for valid syllogisms: (oxy.edu)
1. If a syllogism is valid, then the middle term is distributed at least once.
2. If a syllogism is valid, then if a term is distributed in the conclusion, it must be distributed in a
premise.
3. If a syllogism is valid, it does not have two negative premises.
4. If a syllogism is valid, then it has a negative premise, if and only if it has a negative conclusion.
5. If a syllogism is valid, then if its premises are universal, then its conclusion is universal.
d. List down examples of syllogisms.
1. Major Premise: All cars have wheels.
Minor Premise: I drive a car.
Conclusion: Therefore, my car has wheels.
2. All men have brains. All humans have brains. Therefore, all humans are men.
3. Good parents buy their children ice cream. My client bought his child ice cream last Tuesday.
Therefore, my client is a good parent.
4. Major premise: All books from that store are new.
Minor premise: These books are from that store.
Conclusion: Therefore, these books are new.