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===Structure of syllogisms===
===Structure of syllogisms===
A syllogism is an argument consisting of three propositions. The last is called the conclusion, which is a necessary consequence of the two preceding, which are called ''premisses''. The conclusion has two terms, a subject and a predicate. The predicate is called the ''major term'', its subject the ''minor term''. To entail the conclusion, each of its terms must be compared in the premises with a third term, the ''middle'' term. Thus one premise has the major term and the middle term, and is called the ''major premise''. The other has the minor term and the middle term, and is called the minor premise.
A syllogism is an argument consisting of three propositions. The last is called the conclusion, which is a necessary consequence of the two preceding, which are called ''premisses''. The conclusion has two terms, a subject and a predicate. The predicate is called the ''major term'', its subject the ''minor term''. To entail the conclusion, each of its terms must be compared in the premises with a third term, the ''middle'' term. Thus one premise has the major term and the middle term, and is called the ''major premise''. The other has the minor term and the middle term, and is called the ''minor premise''.
Thus the syllogism consists of three propositions: the major, the minor, and the conclusion. and though each has two terms, a subject and a predicate, there are only three different terms in all. The major term is always the predicate of the conclusion, and so is either the subject or predicate of the major premiss. The minor term is always the subject of the conclusion, and is either the subject or predicate of the minor premise. The middle term is never in the conclusion, but is in both premises, either as subject or predicate.
Thus the syllogism consists of three propositions: the major, the minor, and the conclusion. and though each has two terms, a subject and a predicate, there are only three different terms in all. The major term is always the predicate of the conclusion, and so is either the subject or predicate of the major premiss. The minor term is always the subject of the conclusion, and is either the subject or predicate of the minor premise. The middle term is never in the conclusion, but is in both premises, either as subject or predicate.
