Question

What is the purpose of the scene in Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich in which Ivan Ilyich thinks about the following logical argument, known as a syllogism?
"Caius is a man, men are mortal, therefore Caius is mortal.”


A- to show that all men are mortal and therefore Ivan Ilyich, a man, must die
B-to show that Ivan Ilyich finally acknowledges that he is dying
C- to show that Ivan Ilyich’s attitude toward life has not prepared him to face death
D-to show that Ivan Ilyich has had a good education and therefore his thoughts are sophisticated

Answer 1

Answer:

B. to show that Ivan Ilyich finally acknowledges that he is dying.

Explanation:

The purpose of this scene from Leon Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" in which he thinks about the known syllogism is to show that Ivan Ilyich finally acknowledges that he is dying. When Ivan Ilyich acknowledges he is dying, he resorts to the sylloiysm he learned from Kiesewetter's Logic. This logic is all very good for Caius and for but not for men in general but not for him. He thinks that he cannot be dying. He is desperate at the idea.