All animals are capable of learning. A dog is an animal. Therefore, a dog is capable of learning. For my syllogism, I have attempted to use a general principle and form a specific conclusion that is also correct. First, I have used observation to select a topic I wanted to focus on, afterwards working to make the premise more precise and simple. As I know both from experience and education, all animals are capable of at least two types of behaviors – those they know from birth and those that they have to learn during life. Most animals have the ability to feed themselves, call out to others, or perform basic tasks (Animal Behavior & Learning). These abilities still had to be learned during growth, meaning that the majority of the skills an animal displays can be considered as learned skills.
To complete my syllogism, I have taken a particular instance of an animal, in this case, a dog. Dogs can be generally seen as a part of the animal kingdom. They are well-known to people and well-researched in terms of their mental and physical capabilities. As most people know from their experience, one can teach a dog a variety of skills, including the ones that it might not necessarily need. For example, a person can teach a dog to bring requested items in the house, such as a remote or their socks. Additionally, a dog can learn to follow different commands and identify patterns of behavior, which also supports this animal’s capability to learn. As the two of my basic assessments appear to be true, the conclusion drawn as a result must also be true. I have managed to create a working and correct syllogism.
Reference
Animal Behavior & Learning. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. (n.d.). Web.