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

Derived 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

The Regressive Sorites is a train of reasoning in which the major premiss of each epi-syllogism is supported by a pro-syllogism, while the minor is taken for granted.

From Deductive Logic by Stock, St. George William Joseph

The Sorites is a Polysyllogism in which the Conclusions, and even some of the Premises, are suppressed until the arguments end.

From Logic Deductive and Inductive by Read, Carveth

At a first glance, indeed, there may seem to be a more important point involved; the premises of the Aristotelian Sorites seem to proceed in the order of Fig.

From Logic Deductive and Inductive by Read, Carveth

I have tabulated, for curiosity, the various orders in which the Premisses of the Aristotelian Sorites 1.

From Symbolic Logic by Carroll, Lewis

The Sorites is the neatest and most compendious form that can be assumed by a train of reasoning.

From Deductive Logic by Stock, St. George William Joseph