Rudimenta artium dialecticae et rhetoricae

DIALECTICAE.

What kind of syllogism.

Syllogism is a Greek term, for Latins it is, word for word, Reasoning. Which term is derived by the Arithmeticians from similarity: for just as Arithmeticians establish a certain sum from numbers, so Dialecticians firmly collect and conclude something from the proposed propositions.

Three figures of Syllogisms. The first.

There are three figures of Syllogisms. The first is that in which the Medium, or Middle term, is the subject in the major proposition, and the predicate in the minor: as,
Every seditious person is punished by law.
Catiline is seditious.
Therefore he is punished by law.
By this Syllogism it is concluded that Catiline is justly punished: and that is collected from the preceding two propositions. Of which the major is this:

Every seditious person is punished by law.
It is called the major proposition, for the reason that by its own force it is broader and more universal than the minor, which is:
Catiline is seditious.
To these two propositions is joined this Conclusion:
Therefore Catiline is punished by law.