Practical syllogism

The practical syllogism is within the philosophical discipline of action theory, a model of human behavior. It is formed in analogy to the syllogism within the logic. According to this model an action takes place if and only if a certain specific feature (in this case, sweet ') under a major premise, that a general verdict. In its simplest form, the practical syllogism consists of two premises and a conclusion.

This is the major premise for a general verdict, the pedestal for a particularist judgment. The contents of the saucer is very often obtained from the perception.

In an analogy of sociologist Gerhard Schulze of the practical syllogism of the following components:

• Knowledge component
• Want component
• Action component

This action arises from the knowledge and will of the individual. Example: The reason pupil X gets from his parents a mite, when he brings good grades home in mathematics. That's why he brought in to mathematics.

• Knowledge = If I have good grades in math, I get from my parents praise and money
• Want = recognition by parents and money
• Action = attempt to achieve good grades.

The practical syllogism looks into it back to Aristotle, who used it in the Nicomachean Ethics, Eudemischen ethics as well as in De motu animalium. This corresponds, according to Aristotle, the conclusion of an action. Also in the philosophy of the Middle Ages with Thomas Aquinas it applies as well in the current theory of action within analytic philosophy. G.E.M. Anscombe (1919-2001) used the concept of the practical syllogism in their theory of action. Georg Henrik von Wright sees in the practical syllogism " which is typical of the human sciences explanatory model, with whom he wants to convey the methodological dispute between empiricism and hermeneutics. "