emonstration and Syllogism in Posterior Analytics. Reconstruction and Discussion

Abstract

This article focuses on the relation between syllogism and demonstration, as related to Aristotle’s concept of scientific knowledge in hisPosterior Analytics. Three main lines of argumentation are followed: (i) reasons are given to reject that syllogistic systematization plays a unique role as a skill for justification and didactic proof of a body of knowledge previously acquired. Alternatively, (ii) it is showed that an Aristotelian explanation requires syllogistic as to the role of cause as middle syllogistic term. Thus, it should be feasible (iii) to sustain that it is not possible to firmly establish proper principles as explanative premises without constructing syllogisms.