WS art of syllogism SUM VOC13

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Theology / OLM
The art of reasoning
FLF13
A good reasoning answers the questions: Why is it so? Show me why this is true…
A good reasoning demonstrates the rationality of a statement by providing reasons or proofs.
A good reasoning is a discourse that expresses distinctively why we state this or that.
4 STEPS TO CREATE A ‘BARBARA’ SYLLOGISM
Step 1: Convert a ‘Why’ question into a conclusive statement (Why S is P? Thus, S is P.)
Step 2: Identify the subject and the predicate of the conclusive statement (Thus, S is P.)
Step 3: Apply the ‘barbara’ syllogistic formula and build-up the ‘skeleton’ of your reasoning*.
Step 4: Find the middle term that will complete your syllogism by filling-in both blanks at once.
*THE ‘barbara’ SYLLOGISM FORMULA
Major premise: If the middle term (MD) is P,
B is A
Minor premise: And if S is the middle term (MD),
C is B
Conclusion: Thus, S is P.
C is A
APPLICATION TO AN EXAMPLE
Why is learning about reasoning useful?
Step 1: Convert Thus, learning about reasoning is useful.
Step 2: Identify Thus, learning about reasoning (S) is useful (P).
Step 3: Apply __________(MD)_________ is useful (P),
Learning about reasoning (S) is __________(MD)_________
Thus, learning about reasoning is useful.
Step 4: Find
Learning about a method that helps proving a point is useful,
Learning about reasoning is learning about a method that helps proving a point,
Thus, learning about reasoning is useful.
CUES TO SPOT A REASONING
Look for words such as: ‘because’, ‘thus’, ‘that’s the reason why’, ‘it follows that’, ‘consequently’, ‘then’,
‘thereby’, ‘if’, ‘therefore’, ‘for’, ‘since’…
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