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 logic. According to this model, an action takes place exactly when a certain concrete characteristic (here: 'sweet') falls under a major sentence, ie a general judgment. In its simplest form, the practical syllogism consists of two premises and one conclusion.
| Obersatz: Sweet things are to be strived for. | |
| Base: This is cute. | |
| practical syllogism | Conclusion: This is to be aimed for. |
The major principle stands for a general judgment, the minor for a particular judgment. The content of the sub-clause is very often obtained from perception.
In an analogy by the sociologist Gerhard Schulze , the practical syllogism consists of the following components:
- Knowledge component
- Component of will
- Action component
Action results from the knowledge and will of the individual. Example: Elementary school pupil X receives a contribution from his parents if he brings home good grades in mathematics. That's why he tries hard at math.
- Knowledge = If I have good grades in math, my parents give me praise and money
- Want = recognition from parents and money
- Doing = trying to get good grades.
The practical syllogism goes back to Aristotle , who used it in the Nicomachean Ethics , Eudemian Ethics and De motu animalium . According to Aristotle, the conclusion corresponds to an action. It is also used in the philosophy of the Middle Ages, among others with Thomas Aquinas , as well as in the current theory of action within analytical philosophy . GEM Anscombe (1919-2001) uses the term practical syllogism in their theory of action. Georg Henrik von Wright sees the practical syllogism as "the explanatory model typical of the human sciences, with which he wants to mediate in the methodological dispute between empiricism and hermeneutics ."
literature
- Rüdiger Bubner : Action, Language and Reason. Basic concepts of practical philosophy , Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 1976, 238-250, ISBN 3-518-27982-3
- Uwe Meixner and Albert Neven (eds.): History of Philosophy and Logical Analysis Vol. 11 Focus: The practical syllogism , mentis, Paderborn 2008, ISBN 978-3-897851603
- Oswald Schwemmer : Understanding as a method. Preliminary considerations for a theory of action interpretation , in: Jürgen Mittelstraß (Ed.): Method problems of the sciences of social action, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 1979, 13–45, ISBN 3-518-07870-4 .
- Georg Henrik von Wright : Explanation and Understanding , Athenaeum, Frankfurt 1974, 93–121, ISBN 3-8072-1002-4
Individual evidence
- ^ Otfried Höffe: Small history of philosophy. 2nd Edition. Beck, Munich 2008, p. 354