Question

In light of the criticism that syllogisms may be question-begging, and the argument that deductive reasoning can be informative by combining information from multiple sources, how can we reconcile the view that syllogisms lead to a gain of knowledge with the assertion that they merely highlight consistency with underlying premises?

Answer 1

Deductive reasoning, including syllogisms, leads to a gain of knowledge by guaranteeing the truth of conclusions if the premises are true. However, the premises themselves are often inductively known. Syllogisms highlight consistency with underlying premises.

Step-by-step explanation:

Deductive reasoning, including syllogisms, leads to a gain of knowledge by guaranteeing the truth of conclusions if the premises are true. However, it is important to note that the premises themselves of deductive arguments are often inductively known.

Syllogisms highlight consistency with underlying premises, which can contribute to our understanding of the topic at hand. In this way, deductive reasoning serves as a valid method for generating and organizing knowledge.