====== Sorites ======

An arbitrarily long series of interlinked [[glossary:conditional|conditional]] statements that can be replaced by a new //conditional// constructed from the [[glossary:antecedent|antecedent]] of the first and the [[glossary:consequent|consequent]] of the last premise.

> If <var>A</var>, then <var>B</var>.
> If <var>B</var>, then <var>C</var>.
> ...
> If <var>M</var>, then <var>N</var>.
> <span conclusio>Therefore, If <var>A</var>, then <var>N</var>.</span>

For example:

> If something is a <var>square</var>, then it is a <var>rectangle</var>.
> If something is a <var>rectangle</var>, then it is a <var>polygon</var>.
> If something is a <var>polygon</var>, then it <var>can be drawn in one stroke</var>.
> <span conclusio>Therefore, If something is a <var>square</var>, it <var>can be drawn in one stroke</var>.</span>

===== Name =====

The name “sorites” comes from <span :grc>σωρός</span> [<i :grc-Latn>sorós</i>], the Ancient Greek word for a "pile" or "heap". It is used as a shorter form for the latinized term “<span "Lat.: piled syllogism"><i :la>soriticus syllogismus</i></span>” and should not be confused with the [[logic:emergence:sorites|Sorites fallacy]].

==== Other names ====

  * Polysyllogism
  * Multi-premise syllogism
  * [[logic:inferences:modus_barbara:index|Modus Barbara]]<span noprint>[[app>#barbara|Show in Syllogism-Finder App]]</span> – a specific form of the //sorites// with exactly three terms.

===== See also =====

  * [[glossary:conditional|(Material) Conditional]]
  * [[glossary:enthymeme|Enthymeme]]
  * [[logic:inferences:modus_barbara:index|Modus Barbara]]

===== More information =====

  * [[wp>Polysyllogism]] on //Wikipedia//