3. POLYSYLLOGISM.

A polysyllogism is a series of syllogisms in which the conclusion of a preceding syllogism becomes a premise of a succeeding one.

The syllogism in the series whose conclusion becomes a premise of the succeeding syllogism is termed a prosyllogism; while the syllogism which uses as one of its premises the conclusion of the preceding syllogism is called an episyllogism.

Illustrations.

Polysyllogism  A quadruped is an animal, Prosyllogism
 A dog is a quadruped,
∴ A dog is an animal.
 Fido is a dog, Episyllogism
∴ Fido is an animal.
Polysyllogism  All who libel an associate are unprofessional, Prosyllogism
 This teacher has libelled her associate,
∴ This teacher is unprofessional.
 All who are unprofessional should be disciplined, Episyllogism
∴ This teacher should be disciplined.