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Webster 1913 Edition

Sorites

So-ri′tes

,
Noun.
[L., from Gr.
σωρείτησ
(sc.
συλλογισμός
), properly, heaped up (hence, a heap of syllogisms), fr.
σωρόσ
a heap.]
(Logic)
An abridged form of stating of syllogisms in a series of propositions so arranged that the predicate of each one that precedes forms the subject of each one that follows, and the conclusion unites the subject of the first proposition with the predicate of the last proposition
, as in following example; –
The soul is a thinking agent;
A thinking agent can not be severed into parts;
That which can not be severed can not be destroyed;
Therefore the soul can not be destroyed.
☞ When the series is arranged in the reverse order, it is called the Goclenian sorites, from Goclenius, a philosopher of the sixteenth century.
Destructive sorities
.
See under
Destructive
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sorites

SORI'TES

,
Noun.
In logic, an argument where one proposition is accumulated on another. Thus, all men of revenge have their souls often uneasy. Uneasy souls are a plague to themselves. Now to be one's own plague is folly in the extreme.

Definition 2024

sorites

sorites

English

Noun

sorites ‎(plural sorites)

  1. (logic, rhetoric) A series of propositions whereby each conclusion is taken as the subject of the next.
    • 1760, Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Penguin 2003, p. 130:
      Why?—he would ask, making use of the sorites or syllogism of Zeno and Chrysippus without knowing it belonged to them.—Why? why are we a ruined people?—Because we are corrupted.——Whence is it, dear Sir, that we are corrupted?—Because we are needy [...] ——And wherefore, he would add,—are we needy?——From the neglect, he would answer

Derived terms

See also

Anagrams

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σωρείτης ‎(sōreítēs, “fallacy of the heap”), from σωρός ‎(sōrós, “heap”).

Pronunciation

Noun

sōrītēs m ‎(genitive sōrītae); first declension

  1. sorites; a logical sophism formed by an accumulation of arguments

Inflection

First declension, masculine Greek type with nominative singular in -ēs.

Case Singular Plural
nominative sōrītēs sōrītae
genitive sōrītae sōrītārum
dative sōrītae sōrītīs
accusative sōrītēn sōrītās
ablative sōrītē sōrītīs
vocative sōrītē sōrītae

Descendants

References

Etymology

From the Latin sōrītēs, from the Ancient Greek σωρείτης ‎(sōreítēs, “fallacy of the heap”), from σωρός ‎(sōrós, “heap”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /səˈraɪtiːz/

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