Syllogism

al-qiyās

القِيَاس

A syllogism (qiyās) is a statement composed of propositions such that, once they are granted, another statement follows from them necessarily and by themselves.

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Explanation

In a categorical syllogism the two premises share a middle term (al-ḥadd al-awsaṭ). Its position in the premises gives four figures (ashkāl).

Each figure has its own conditions of productivity (shurūṭ al-intāj); a combination that fails them is sterile (ʿaqīm).

Also written as: qiyas, qiyaas, syllogism.

Examples

Every human is an animal; every animal is a body; so every human is a body (first figure)

Related terms

Proposition
Logic

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