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," and "Socrates is a human," we can conclude that "Socrates is mortal." This structure helps clarify relationships between different categories. Syllogisms are often used in philosophy and mathematics to illustrate logical arguments. They can be categorized into different types, such as categorical syllogisms, which deal with the relationships between classes, and hypothetical syllogisms, which involve conditional statements. Understanding syllogisms can enhance critical thinking skills.