A well order is a total order on a set $S$ with the property that every non-empty subset of $S$ has a least element. But surely it follows from the definition of a total order that any non-empty subset will always have a least element because they are all comparable? I don't see how this is an additional property
[Math] Isn’t every totally ordered set well-ordered
order-theory
Best Answer
You are thinking about finite subsets. And it is true, given a finite subset of a linearly ordered set, it is has a minimal (and maximal) element.
But what about infinite subsets? What about $\Bbb Q$, for example, as a subset of $\Bbb R$ or as a subset of itself?
And even more so, your argument if you look closely, should work for maximal. Every two elements are comparable, then there is a maximal element to every non-empty subset. But surely you can find linear orders without a maximal element, even well-orders without a maximal element, e.g. $\Bbb N$.