Λογοτόπος
summary syllogism
Translated by David Whitehead12 Sep 2001Vetting: high5 revisions
Translation
Among philosophers [a summary syllogism]1 [is] a combination of both,2 as for example in "if Plato is alive, Plato is breathing; but the first [is true], therefore the second [is true]". The summary syllogism was introduced in order that, when dealing with long and complex arguments, we should no longer have to state the minor premiss -- [if] a long one -- and the conclusion, but could proceed summarily: "but the first, so the second".
Greek original · Adler’s text
Λογοτόπος· παρὰ φιλοσόφοις τὸ ἐξ ἀμφοτέρων σύνθετον· οἷον, εἰ ζῇ Πλάτων, ἀναπνεῖ Πλάτων. ἀλλὰ μὴν τὸ πρῶτον· τὸ ἄρα δεύτερον. παρεισήχθη δὲ ὁ λογοτόπος ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἐν ταῖς μακροτέραις συντάξεσι τῶν λόγων μηκέτι τὴν σύλληψιν μακρὰν οὖσαν καὶ τὴν ἐπιφορὰν λέγειν, ἀλλὰ συντόμως ἐπενεγκεῖν, τὸ δὲ πρῶτον· τὸ ἄρα δεύτερον.