Polysyllogism


A polysyllogism is a string of any number of propositions forming together a sequence of syllogisms such that the conclusion of each syllogism, together with the next proposition, is a premise for the next, and so on. Each constituent syllogism is called a prosyllogism except the very last, because the conclusion of the last syllogism is not a premise for another syllogism.

Example

An example for a polysyllogism is:
Examination of the structure of the argument reveals the following sequence of constituent syllogisms:

Sorites

A sorites is a specific kind of polysyllogism in which the predicate of each proposition is the subject of the next premise. Example:
The word "sorites" comes from σωρίτης, "heaped up", from σωρός "heap" or "pile". In other words, a sorites is a heap of propositions chained together. A sorites polysyllogism should not be confused with the sorites paradox, a.k.a. fallacy of the heap.
Lewis Carroll uses sorites in his book . Here is an example:
Carroll's example may be translated thus