A
hypothetical syllogism is a
valid argument of the following
form:
- P ⇒ Q.
- Q ⇒ R.
- Therefore, P ⇒ R.
In other words, this kind of argument states that if one implies another, and that other implies a third, then the first implies the third. An example hypothetical syllogism:
- If I do not wake up, then I cannot go to work.
- If I cannot go to work, then I will not get paid.
- Therefore, if I do not wake up, then I will not get paid.
See also syllogism, disjunctive syllogism.