Final answer:
The syllogism provided is a valid example of deductive reasoning because the conclusion (I am mortal) logically follows from the premises (All humans are mortal, and I am human).
Step-by-step explanation:
The syllogism in question is: All humans are mortal. I am human. Therefore, I am mortal. This is a classic example of deductive reasoning, and when we assess the structure of the argument, we are determining whether it is valid or invalid based on logical form rather than truth content.
To evaluate the syllogism, we must check if the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises. Here, the major premise states a general principle that all members of the category 'humans' have the property of being 'mortal.' The minor premise identifies 'I' as a member of the category 'humans.' Therefore, it logically follows that 'I,' being a human, must also have the property of being 'mortal.' According to the principles of deductive logic, this argument is a valid syllogism because, if the premises are true, the conclusion cannot be false.