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sorites

sorites


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sorites  \So*ri"tes\,  n.  [L.,  from  Gr  swrei`ths  (sc. 
  syllogismo`s),  properly,  heaped  up  (hence,  a  heap  of 
  syllogisms),  fr  swro`s  a  heap.]  (Logic) 
  An  abridged  form  of  stating  of  syllogisms  in  a  series  of 
  propositions  so  arranged  that  the  predicate  of  each  one  that 
  precedes  forms  the  subject  of  each  one  that  follows,  and  the 
  conclusion  unites  the  subject  of  the  first  proposition  with 
  the  predicate  of  the  last  proposition,  as  in  following 
  example; 
 
  The  soul  is  a  thinking  agent;  A  thinking  agent  can  not 
  be  severed  into  parts  That  which  can  not  be  severed 
  can  not  be  destroyed;  Therefore  the  soul  can  not  be 
  destroyed. 
 
  Note:  When  the  series  is  arranged  in  the  reverse  order  it  is 
  called  the  Goclenian  sorites,  from  Goclenius  a 
  philosopher  of  the  sixteenth  century. 
 
  {Destructive  sorities}.  See  under  {Destructive}.