Logos & The Syllogism
What does the Greek word "logos" mean?
"word"
What is an enthymeme?
a syllogism with one of the premises or the conclusion missing
Deductive reasoning starts with KNOWN PRINCIPLES and applies them downward to PARTICULARS/NEW PRINCIPLES.
Inductive reasoning starts with _______________ and moves up into a ________________.
Inductive reasoning starts with EXAMPLES/PARTICULARS and moves up into a GENERAL PRINCIPLE.
What is one of the three definitions of logos?
the reason that can be given form by words
an ordering of our own thinking through the patterned forms of thought that words make known
the argument itself
Enthymeme comes from the Greek words "en" and "thumos." What does this translate to in English?
"in the mind" or "in the spirit"
What are the three forms of deductive reasoning?
Syllogism
Enthymeme
Maxim
What are the three forms of inductive reasoning?
Examples
Comparisons
Fables
What is a syllogism?
an argument that uses two given propositions (premises) to logically prove a third proposition (the conclusion)
Why does Aristotle recommend using enthymemes in rhetoric as opposed to syllogisms? (2 reasons)
they are shorter and easier to follow
(if done well) they appeal to the principles or beliefs the audience already agrees to
What are the two approaches to using a maxim in an argument?
Agreeing with a maxim
Turning a maxim on its head (disagreeing with a maxim)
How does having more examples (a bigger sample size of observations) change the strength of your conclusion?
The larger the sample size (the more examples you have), the stronger your conclusion.
What are the three types of syllogisms/enthymemes we discussed?
categorical
hypothetical
disjunctive
What can people think if you use enthymemes poorly?
If you use enthymemes poorly (making bad assumptions), people will think that you are hiding your argument or trying to get away with faulty reasoning.
What is a maxim?
a general statement about practical conduct
an argument boiled down into one pithy saying
a wise saying passed down from previous ages or generations
Why can inductive reasoning never be 100% certain?
Someone can disprove your conclusion with just one example that contradicts your conclusion.
How do you tell the difference between categorical, hypothetical, and disjunctive syllogisms?
categorical: all, no, some, some...not...
hypothetical: if...then...
disjunctive: either...or...
How do you make sure that the assumptions you make in a speech are "good" assumptions? (two criteria)
Based in reason
Believed by the audience
How does turning a maxim on its head help your ethos?
It shows that you are of even better character than common wisdom.
It shows that you are wise enough to question what most people think as "wise."
In the following deductive argument, which proposition is based on inductive reasoning?
All birds have wings.
Timmy is a bird.
Therefore, Timmy has wings.
All birds have wings.
We have found out that all birds have wings because of our observations of birds. So, we have discovered this GENERAL PRINCIPLE from EXAMPLES/OBSERVATIONS (inductive reasoning).