Epicheireme

An epicheireme is a compound syllogism in which at least one of the premises is stated along with a justification for itself. Epicheirema are abridged polysyllogisms. Like the enthymeme, epicheirema are often used in everyday speech.

Basic form

An epicheireme is a compound syllogism in which at least one of the premises is stated along with a justification for itself. The justificatory portion is referred to as a causal proposition, and is usually introduced by the words "for", "since", or "because". An example of an epicheireme is as follows, with the causal proposition marked in bold italics:

Three kinds of epicheirema

Epicheirema are categorized in three varieties, depending on which premise contain a causal proposition. In a first order epicheireme, the causal proposition is in the major premise.
First Order Epicheireme
In a second order epicheireme, the causal proposition is in the minor premise.
Second Order Epicheireme
In a third order epicheireme, there are causal propositions in both premises.
Third Order Epicheireme
A concrete example of a third order epicheireme is as follows: