§ 805. An epicheirema, it will be seen, consists of one syllogism fully expressed together with one, or, it may be, two enthymemes (§ 557). In the above instance, if the reasoning which supports the premisses were set forth at full length, we should have, in place of the enthymemes, the two following pro-syllogisms—
(i) All E is A.
All B is E.
.'. All B is A.
Whatever promotes the general welfare is praiseworthy.
Every virtue promotes the general welfare.
.'. Every virtue is praiseworthy.
(2) All F is B.
All C is F.
.'. All C is B.
Whatever prompts men to postpone self to others is a virtue.
Generosity prompts men to postpone self to others.
.'. Generosity is a virtue.
§ 806. The enthymemes in the instance above given are both of the first order, having the major premiss suppressed. But there is nothing to prevent one or both of them from being of the second order—
All B is A, because all F is.
All C is B, because all F is.
.'. All C is A.
All Mahometans are fanatics, because all Monotheists are.
These men are Mahometans, because all Persians are.
.'. These men are fanatics.
Here it is the minor premiss in each syllogism that is suppressed, namely,
(1) All Mahometans are Monotheists.