sorites

American  

[saw-rahy-teez, soh-] / sɔˈraɪ tiz, soʊ- /

noun

Logic.

1. a form of argument having several premises and one conclusion, capable of being resolved into a chain of syllogisms, the conclusion of each of which is a premise of the next.

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sorites British  

/ sɒˈraɪtiːz, sɒˈrɪtɪkəl /

noun

1. logic

   1. a polysyllogism in which the premises are arranged so that intermediate conclusions are omitted, being understood, and only the final conclusion is stated

   2. a paradox of the form

      these few grains of sand do not constitute a heap, and the addition of a single grain never makes what is not yet a heap into a heap: so no matter how many single grains one adds it never becomes a heap

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Other Word Forms

• soritic
  adjective
• soritical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sorites

1545–55; < Latin sōrītēs < Greek sōreítēs literally, heaped, piled up, derivative of sōrós a heap

Example Sentences

In the regressive sorites the proposition which stands first is the only one which appears as a major premiss in the expanded form.

From Deductive Logic by Stock, St. George William Joseph

For the regular sorites the following rules may be laid down.

From Deductive Logic by Stock, St. George William Joseph

The whole must needs follow by a sorites or induction.

From The Anatomy of Melancholy by Burton, Robert

The syllogisms which compose a regular sorites, whether progressive or regressive, will always be in the first figure.

From Deductive Logic by Stock, St. George William Joseph

In the irregular sorites the syllogisms may fall into different figures.

From Deductive Logic by Stock, St. George William Joseph