Minor Premise
The facts in this case, Facts 1-n, fall within these categories.
Conclusion
Facts 1-n cause Consequences.
Figure 20.2 Syllogism
It is highly instructive to compare this table setting out the syllogism with the
table above in Figure 20.1 showing the application of law to facts
(remembering as we do that the table above constitutes the first two columns
of the model for using law). When we do this it can be seen that they set out
the same thing but in a different way. This is how the table in Figure 20.1 sets
out the syllogism:
(1)
The first column, where Elements 1-n cause Consequences, constitutes
the major premise of the syllogism.
(2)
The upper parts of the first and second column (the parts above the
vertical arrows) constitute the minor premise. Together they portray that Facts
1-n satisfy Elements 1-n because they fall within the categories of facts
designated by Elements 1-n.
(3)
The conclusion of the syllogism, that Facts 1-n causes Consequences,
is represented in the third column by the arrow between the last fact in the list,
Fact n, and Consequences. When the facts fit the law, the consequences apply
to the facts.
With the benefit of this analysis it is possible to recast Figure 20.1 to highlight
the syllogism:
1
Major Premise
2
Minor Premise
3
Conclusion
Elements
Facts
Element 1
Fact 1
Element 2
Fact 2
Element n
Fact n
Consequences
Consequences
Figure 20.3 Syllogism as a Diagram
This diagram represents the syllogism in the following way:
(1)
Major Premise. The first column sets out the rule as a conditional
statement that also constitutes the major premise of the syllogism: “If facts fall
within the categories designated by Elements 1-n they cause Consequences”.
(2)
Minor Premise. The minor premise of the syllogism provides as follows:
“The facts in this case, Facts 1-n, fall within the categories designated by
Elements 1-n”. In the diagram, the arrow from the third column to the first
column represents the minor premise. It signifies that Facts 1-n in the third
column fit within and thus satisfy Elements 1-n in the third column. The point
is that
Facts 1-n in Column 3 falling within the categories delineated by
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