Question

Is the following a valid syllogistic argument? Identify its major and minor premise.

1. Statement: All cars have engines.
2. Statement: A Corvette is a car.
3. Conclusion: A Corvette has an engine

Answer 1

The argument presented is a valid syllogistic argument with a structure known as modus ponens, which guarantees that if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question involves evaluating the validity of a syllogistic argument. A syllogistic argument is one that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more premises that are asserted or assumed to be true. In this case, the argument follows a valid form known as a modus ponens, which is a common and valid deductive argument structure.

The two premises in question are:

1. All cars have engines. (Major Premise)
2. A Corvette is a car. (Minor Premise)

Then the conclusion drawn from these premises is:

A Corvette has an engine. (Conclusion)

This argument's structure ensures that, if both premises are true, the conclusion must necessarily be true. Thus, the argument is valid.