Logic: syllogisms

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Logical reasoning in Greek philosophy often took the form of a syllogism that uses deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion.

Some people think syllogisms are "silly" and will use the pun "sillygism" to refer to a "syllogism".

Refined by Aristotle, the English word "syllogism" comes from the ancient Greek word "συλλογισμός" ≈ "syllogism".

The English word "sully" comes from an Old English word meaning "mud".

To "sully" a reputation is to make it as if "mud" were added to it.

The ancient Greek word "συλλογισμός" ≈ "syllogism" comes from the ancient Greek word "συλλογίζομαι" ≈ "compute, calculate" and appears in the GNT (Greek New Testament) as G4817 (see below). The word is made of the following.

"σύν" ≈ "together".
"λογίζομαι" ≈ "count, reckon".
"λόγος" ≈ "word, reasoning" and many other meanings. In Greek philosophy, the word is often refers to a explanation of reality.

The modern Greek word "συλλογισμός" (seel-lo-y-SMOS) ≈ "syllogism".

*G4817 *1 συλλογίζομαι (sool-log-id'-zom-ahee) : from G4862 and G3049; to reckon together (with oneself), i.e. deliberate:--reason with.

Usage

All

συνελογισαντο

Luke 20:5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If ...

The ancient Greek word "λογίζομαι" ≈ "count, reckon", the root word for "syllogism", appears in Luke 20:5.

Luke 20:5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? [kjv]

οι δε συνελογισαντο προς εαυτους λεγοντες οτι εαν ειπωμεν εξ ουρανου ερει δια τι ουκ επιστευσατε αυτω [gnt]

Luke 20:5

All

KJV: And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

Greek: οι δε συνελογισαντο προς εαυτους λεγοντες οτι εαν ειπωμεν εξ ουρανου ερει δια τι ουν ουκ επιστευσατε αυτω

*G3049 *40 λογίζομαι (log-id'-zom-ahee) : middle voice from G3056; to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively):--conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).

Usage

All

ελογισθη *8

Luke 22:37 ... in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for ...
Romans 4:3 ... believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:9 ... we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Romans 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in ...
Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:23 ... sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Galatians 3:6 ... believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
James 2:23 ... believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: ...

λογιζεται *5

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, ...
Romans 4:5 ... the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:6 ... of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Romans 9:8 ... but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
1 Corinthians 13:5 ... is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

λογιζομαι *5

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present ...
2 Corinthians 10:2 ... when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if ...
2 Corinthians 11:5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very ...
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: ...
1 Peter 5:12 ... brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, ...

λογιζεσθε *3

John 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that ...
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be ...
Philippians 4:8 ... if there be any praise, think on these things.

λογιζεσθω *3

1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers ...
2 Corinthians 10:7 ... that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, ...
2 Corinthians 10:11 Let such an one think this, that, such as ...

λογισθηναι *2

Acts 19:27 ... goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence ...
Romans 4:11 ... not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

λογισηται *2

Romans 4:8 ... to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
2 Corinthians 12:6 ... now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above ...

λογιζη

Romans 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest ...

λογισθησεται

Romans 2:26 ... shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

λογιζομεθα

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without ...

λογιζεσθαι

Romans 4:24 ... also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on ...

ελογισθημεν

Romans 8:36 ... we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

λογιζομενω

Romans 14:14 ... of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, ...

ελογιζομην

1 Corinthians 13:11 ... I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but ...

λογισασθαι

2 Corinthians 3:5 ... sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ...

λογιζομενος

2 Corinthians 5:19 ... the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; ...

λογιζομενους

2 Corinthians 10:2 ... when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if ...

λογισθειη

2 Timothy 4:16 ... men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

λογισαμενος

Hebrews 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, ...

Words: ελογιζομην ελογισθη=8 ελογισθημεν λογιζεσθαι λογιζεσθε=3 λογιζεσθω=3 λογιζεται=5 λογιζη λογιζομαι=5 λογιζομεθα λογιζομενος λογιζομενους λογιζομενω λογισαμενος λογισασθαι λογισηται=2 λογισθειη λογισθηναι=2 λογισθησεται

This Greek word for "count" as in a "reasoning process" and the root word from which "syllogism" is derived appears 8 times in the LXX (Septuagint). Here are a few.

Exodus 30:12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. [kjv]

Isaiah 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. [kjv]

Exodus 30:12

All

KJV: When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

Hebrew: כי תשא את ראש בני ישראל לפקדיהם ונתנו איש כפר נפשו ליהוה בפקד אתם ולא יהיה בהם נגף בפקד אתם׃

Greek: εαν λαβης τον συλλογισμον των υιων ισραηλ εν τη επισκοπη αυτων και δωσουσιν εκαστος λυτρα της ψυχης αυτου τω κυριω και ουκ εσται εν αυτοις πτωσις εν τη επισκοπη αυτων

Isaiah 43:18

All

KJV: Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Hebrew: אל תזכרו ראשנות וקדמניות אל תתבננו׃

Greek: μη μνημονευετε τα πρωτα και τα αρχαια μη συλλογιζεσθε

Brenton: Remember you° not the former things, and consider not the ancient things.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle, personal tutor to Alexander the Great, developed and refined the syllogism.

Major premise (claim, proposition)
Minor premise (claim, proposition)
Conclusion (from premises)

A common syllogism is the following.

All men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

This particular syllogism, as many, relies on what is today called set theory and often depicted using Venn diagrams.

There are four basic constructs of premises about S and P.

SaP: all S are P	SiP: some S are P

SeP: no S is P	ScP: some S is not P

A difficulty in reasoning with syllogisms today is that there was not a good understanding of nothing as in "zero" in ancient times.

Here is an example.

Syllogism
Category	As stated	Abstracted
Major premise	All men are mortal	All M are P
Minor premise	Socrates is a man	All S are M
Conclusion	Socrates is mortal	All S are P

P is "mortal".
M is "men".
S is "Socrates".

Syllogism
Category	As stated	Abstracted
Major premise	All mortals die	All M are P
Minor premise	All men are mortals	All S are M
Conclusion	All men die	All S are P

P is "die".
M is "mortal".
S is "men".

Note that some people throughout time have had trouble doing abstracting. That is, substituting symbols for words (that often represent meanings).

The field of algebra involves a lot of abstraction (using placeholder names and then substitution and simplification). Those who do not like algebra tend not to like syllogisms, formal logic, computer programming, etc.

A deductive reasoning method is top-down, backward chaining from the ending point, the goal, to the starting point.

In modern times, the syllogism has been replaced by a more general and refined predicate logic, but that is beyond what is covered here.

By contrast, an inductive reasoning method is bottom-up, forward chaining, from the starting point to the ending point, the goal.

The field of science was traditionally deductive in that evidence was gathered to formulate ideas or laws about how the universe works.

A connected logic argument that uses transitivity is as follows.

If "Mary is the mother of Jesus"
and "Jesus is the lamb of God",
then "Mary had a little lamb".

Mary is the mother of Jesus.
Jesus is the lamb of God.
So Mary had a little lamb.

If "God is truth"
and "truth is reality"
then "God is reality".

Mark 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. [kjv]

ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω τι με λεγεις αγαθον ουδεις αγαθος ει μη εις ο θεος [gnt]

… bonum … bonus … Deus [v]

Let us look at the idea of God being "good" is commented on by Jesus.

Mark 10:18

All

KJV: And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Greek: ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω τι με λεγεις αγαθον ουδεις αγαθος ει μη εις ο θεος

Latin: Iesus autem dixit ei quid me dicis bonum nemo bonus nisi unus Deus

Wessex: Þa cwaeð se haelend hwi saigst þu me godne; nis nan man god buton god ane.

The Latin word "bonus" ≈ "good" which became the English "bonus", something that is "good".

Note that the Old English word "god" ≈ "good" is not related to the Middle English word "god" ≈ "God". The had to be distinguished by context. Eventually, an additional "o" was added to "god" to become "good".

Here is a possible syllogism form.

No one is good but God.
Socrates is a man (human).
Socrates is not good.

Here is a generalization.

No one is good but God.
X is a man (human) who is not God.
X is not good.

Now let us see what happens with Jesus as the "man".

No one is good but God.
Jesus is a man.
Jesus is God.
Jesus is good.

What Jesus says, in the overall context, does not result in a contradiction.

Note that Jesus leaves part of the reasoning not directly stated, but inferable.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [kjv]

παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου [gnt]

If sinners were not allowed in church, there would be no one allowed in church.

The Greek here for "all" is plural which means there may be exceptions. Who might be an exception?
The ancient Greek word "ἁμαρτία" ≈ "error, mistake, fault, sin" as in, literally, "not a witness". The Greek for "glory" is that of "opinion". Anything that is "not a witness" for God "falls short" or "lags behind" of God's "opinion" or "expectation".

In logical reasoning, one should not universally quantify something without specifying the domain to which it applies and how it applies. The "for all" would appear to refer to "men" who are not "God" (as in "Jesus").

More: A martyred witness to a translation error

More: Whether this or that: What is your opinion on glory?

More: Expectation of a glorious Greek opinion on a doxology

Paraphrase: For all have not been a (good) witness (of God) and not approached the opinion of God

More: Whether this or that: What is your opinion on glory?

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [kjv]

παντες γαρ ημαρτον και υστερουνται της δοξης του θεου [gnt]

Do we need to come up to the "glory" of God? Perhaps a pastor could help us with that seemingly unattainable quest.

"υστερούντα" ≈ "lag behind, be late".
"δόξα" ≈ "opinion, expectation".

Paraphrase: All (with possible exceptions) have not been a (good) witness (for God) and have lagged behind the opinion/expectation of God.

It appears we do not have to reach the level of God. God has an expectation/opinion of where we should be and we are lagging behind that expectation/opinion. This appears to be in line with Eastern Orthodox thought.

More: Sin and good people

More: Everything and all things: But wait, there's more

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: [kjv]

Romans 5:12

All

KJV: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Greek: δια τουτο ωσπερ δι ενος ανθρωπου η αμαρτια εις τον κοσμον εισηλθεν και δια της αμαρτιας ο θανατος και ουτως εις παντας ανθρωπους ο θανατος διηλθεν εφ ω παντες ημαρτον

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [kjv]

Genesis 6:5

All

KJV: And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Hebrew: וירא יהוה כי רבה רעת האדם בארץ וכל יצר מחשבת לבו רק רע כל היום׃

Greek: ιδων δε κυριος ο θεος οτι επληθυνθησαν αι κακιαι των ανθρωπων επι της γης και πας τις διανοειται εν τη καρδια αυτου επιμελως επι τα πονηρα πασας τας ημερας

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [kjv]

Jeremiah 17:9

All

KJV: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Hebrew: עקב הלב מכל ואנש הוא מי ידענו׃

Greek: βαθεια η καρδια παρα παντα και ανθρωπος εστιν και τις γνωσεται αυτον

by RS admin@creationpie.com : 1024 x 640