A syllogism is a form of logical reasoning that consists of two premises followed by a conclusion. It is used to draw a specific conclusion based on general statements. For example, if we say, "All humans are mortal" (premise 1) and "Socrates is a human" (premise 2), we can conclude that "Socrates is mortal" (conclusion). Syllogisms are often used in philosophy and mathematics to illustrate how conclusions can be logically derived from given premises. They help clarify arguments and ensure that reasoning is sound. A classic example is the Aristotelian syllogism, named after the philosopher Aristotle, who extensively studied this form of reasoning.