major premise
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - The premise of a syllogism that contains the major term: In formal logic, a syllogism is a three-part argument consisting of two premises and a conclusion. The major premise is the statement that contains the major term (the predicate of the conclusion). It is typically the first premise in a standard categorical syllogism.
Usage
The major premise establishes a general rule or principle. It is used together with a minor premise to logically derive a conclusion. - In the syllogism "All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal," the statement "All humans are mortal" is the major premise. - A valid argument requires that the major premise be true for the conclusion to be sound.
Advanced Usage
- Role in Deductive Reasoning: The major premise is foundational in deductive arguments. If the major premise is false, the entire argument may be unsound, even if the logical form is valid.
- The debate focused on the truth of the argument's major premise, not its logical structure.
Variants and Related Words
- Premise (Noun): A statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.
- Minor Premise (Noun): The premise of a syllogism that contains the minor term (the subject of the conclusion).
- Syllogism (Noun): A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions (premises).
Synonyms
- Major proposition
- First premise (in a standard-form categorical syllogism)
Related Terms and Concepts
- Categorical Syllogism: A logical argument consisting of three categorical propositions (two premises and a conclusion) that together involve exactly three terms.
- Major Term: The predicate term of the conclusion, which also appears in the major premise.
- Deductive Argument: An argument in which the premises are intended to guarantee the conclusion.
Noun
- the premise of a syllogism that contains the major term (which is the predicate of the conclusion)