How did Desiderius Erasmus view Aristotle’s theory of syllogisms?

Desiderius Erasmus, a prominent humanist of the Renaissance, held a critical view of Aristotle’s logical theories. While he occasionally praised Aristotle himself, Erasmus did not laud his work on logic, which he associated with the "sterile" systems of the Middle Ages.

Specifically, Erasmus characterized Aristotle’s theory of the syllogism as consisting only of "subtlety and arid ingenuity." This perspective aligned with a broader trend among Renaissance humanists who often denounced medieval logic and sought to move away from what they perceived as overly complex and unproductive logical frameworks. Unlike some of his contemporaries who attempted to reform or balance Aristotelian logic, Erasmus generally prioritized philology and rhetoric over formal philosophy, viewing himself more as an orator than an inquirer after truth.12