Interpreting Words and Forming Arguments: The Study of Syllogisms

Interpretation talks about words put together into statements, but the prior analytics focuses on sentences put together into arguments. Specifically, it studies the arguments Aristotle calls syllogisms, which are arguments with two premises and a conclusion. These syllogisms use variables, a device invented by Aristotle, which allows for abstract consideration of argument forms. This forms the basis of Aristotle's logic as explored in the prior analytics.