although he is bound to hear from people enough to make this known to him without recourse to their method. They themselves acknowledge that the first figure of categorical syllogisms suffices in place of all other syllogistic forms. Its form is grasped naturally and need not be learned from them. Moreover, inference does not require conceiving it in the manner they claim.
Section
As for their statement, “Inference must consist of two premises, neither more nor less,” this claim is false in both directions. The premises needed by someone drawing an inference vary from person to person. Some people need only one premise because they already know the rest, just as some need no inference at all to know the matter, but may know it directly. Others need two premises; others three; and others four or more.
Suppose someone wishes to know whether this particular intoxicant is prohibited. If he knows that every intoxicant is prohibited, but does not know whether this particular intoxicant causes intoxication, he needs only one premise: to know that it is intoxicating. If he is told, “This is prohibited,” and asks, “What is the evidence for that?” and the person presenting the argument replies, “The evidence is that it is intoxicating,” the desired conclusion has been established.
The same applies if two people disagree about a particular kind of drink: is it intoxicating or not?