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Approximate syllogisms – on the logic of everyday life

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Abstract

Since Aristotle it is recognised that a valid syllogism cannot have two particular premises. However, that is not how a lay person sees it; at least as long as the premises read “many”, “most” etc, instead of a plain “some”. The lay people are right if one considers that these syllogisms do not have strict but approximate (Zadeh) validity. Typically there are only particular premises available in everyday life and one is dependent on such syllogisms. – Some rules on the usage of particular premises are given below.

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  1. Institute of Philosophy of Law and Computers and Law, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Professor-Huber-Platz 2, D-80539, München, Germany

    Lothar Philipps

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  1. Lothar Philipps
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Philipps, L. Approximate syllogisms – on the logic of everyday life. Artificial Intelligence and Law 7, 227–234 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008369608852

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008369608852

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