Note 175

See Part II, VIA QUAESTIONIS,  b. Deductive Demonstration (Proof) (Syllogism of the first figure) .
See also NOTE 157 in Part IV  (press BACK button of browser to return).
The  Syllogism  is a certain scheme of arguing :  a maior (1st premise), a minor (2nd premise), and a conclusion. A premise is a proposition the truth of which is conceded by the participants to the argument.
petitio principii  is a circular proof (that is, the conclusion was already contained in one or both premises, and such a proof [favorite among those who want to persuade innocent people of the truth of some theological doctrine] is consequently invalid.

Back to main text