a term. A syllogism comprises three terms: the minor, the middle, and the major. For example, one might say, “The disputed nabīdh is intoxicating, and every intoxicant is prohibited.” Here, “nabīdh,” “intoxicating,” and “prohibited” are each simple expressions, constituting the terms of the syllogism. This, then, is not what they mean by “statement”; rather, they mean that each proposition is a statement, as they themselves have explained.

Hence they say:

“A syllogism is a statement composed of statements such that, if these are conceded, another statement necessarily follows from them by virtue of those statements alone.”

What necessarily follows is the conclusion, which is a proposition, a declarative statement, and a complete sentence—not a simple expression.

Likewise, they say, “A syllogism is a composite statement,” thus calling the two propositions taken together a statement. Since they describe a syllogism as composed of statements, meaning propositions, this need not mean precisely two statements. For a plural expression either encompasses two or more, as in His words:

“If he has siblings, his mother receives a sixth.”

Or it means three or more, which, according to the majority, is its primary meaning. It may, however, denote numerical plurality in general, thus encompassing two or more; the plural is not restricted to two.

Thus, when they say, “It is composed of statements,” if they mean numerical plurality in general, this means two or more. A syllogism may therefore be composed of three or four premises and is not restricted to two. If, however, they intend the plural in its strict sense, it could only be composed of three or more. They certainly do not intend this, so only the first interpretation remains.

If it is said that they accept this and say:

“We say that a syllogism consists, at a minimum,