Examples

Examples of Syllogism:

// Declaration of Independence // by Thomas Jefferson ** “ ** We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness” (//Declaration of Independence//).


 * Major Premise: “**We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….”


 * Minor Premise:** “…— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —…”

 · This passage from the //Declaration of Independence// is syllogistic because it can be broken into major premise, minor premise, and conclusion. The major premise explains that the men are equal and have unalienable rights while the minor premise explains that the government is established to protect the men’s rights. Then the two premises lead to the conclusion in which it is concluded that if the government does not fulfill its duty then the people have the right to abolish it.  · The author’s purpose for using syllogism in this passage was to show the audience that the conclusion he was about to reach is valid. To prove that his conclusion is valid he supported it with two logical statements, also known as the major and minor premise.
 * Conclusion:** “…That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness” (//Declaration of Independence//).

Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" Speech “Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope” (** Give Me Liberty Speech **).

**Major Premise** : “Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on.”


 * Minor Premise:** “… We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament .”


 * Conclusion:** “Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope” (** Give Me Liberty Speech ****).**

· Henry’s speech contains a passage in which the major premise states that the colonists did everything they could to stop the war that was coming while the minor premise states some specific things they did like petitioning. These two premises lead to the conclusion in which it is stated that there is no hope and war is the only option.  · The author’s purpose for using syllogism in this passage was to tell the audience that the war is the only way they can gain independence and he used the two premise to support his conclusion.

**// The Prince //**** by Machiavelli ** “The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms; and as there cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed, it follows that where they are well armed they have good laws” ( Chapter 12, //The Prince//). **Major Premise**: “The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms....”


 * Minor Premise**: “...and as there cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed…”

 · In this passage Machiavelli’s major premise is that the chief foundations of all states are good arms and laws. His minor premise is that “there cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed.” These two premises lead to the conclusion in which Machiavelli states that good laws are only established if the country is well armed.  · The author’s purpose for using syllogism in this passage was to present his conclusion in a logical way. The major and minor premise are two logical statements that lead to his conclusion.
 * Conclusion**: “…it follows that where they are well armed they have good laws” ( Chapter 12, //The Prince).//