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Anyone know what a syllogism is?

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by Daryn, Feb 5, 2012.

  1. Daryn

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    Why are there eggs scrambling in the street?
    I need to do a syllogism for my controversial topic, "are people born gay or is homosexuality a choice?" Obviously I'm going the "born this way" route. I have to create a syllogism for it, and im not sure I quite get how to do it. You need a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion. I just have a hard time with the minor premise. Anyone have any tips?
     
  2. Kerze

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    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Major premise: Heterosexuals do not choose their orientation
    Minor premise: Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation
    Conclusion: People do not choose their sexual orientation

    :S but don't quote me on this, that's just based on what I remember from a philosophy book I read ages ago, it's probably not done right.
     
  3. Ridiculous

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    You can't come to that conclusion from those two premises, as the premises only deal with heterosexuals, then the conclusion jumps to all people.

    You could say:
    Major premise: People do not choose their sexual orientation
    Minor premise: Some people are homosexual
    Conclusion: Homosexuals do not choose to be homosexual

    (or "Homosexuals do not choose their sexual orientation" if you want to keep the phrase link from premise one)
     
  4. Zontar

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    My problem is that syllogisms usually come to me waaaay too quickly.

    Wait a sec...
     
  5. Daryn

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    This was the example I was given: major: big cars are safer in accidents. Minor: trucks are big cars. Conclusion: trucks are safer in accidents
     
  6. waitingfordawn

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    The basic formula of a syllogism is

    If A is B
    And if A is C
    Then B is C

    Just fill in the blanks.
     
  7. Simply, (going off on what Ridiculous contributed)

    Major premise: People do not choose their sexual orientation.
    Minor premise: Homosexual is a type of sexual orientation.
    Conclusion: People do not choose to be homosexual.