Enthymeme Totally Explained

Everything about Enthymeme totally explained

An enthymeme, in its modern sense, is an informally stated syllogism (a three-part deductive argument) with an unstated assumption that must be true for the premises to lead to the conclusion. In an enthymeme, part of the argument is missing because it's assumed. In a broader usage, the term "enthymeme" is sometimes used to describe an incomplete argument of forms other than the syllogism. For Aristotle, who defined it in his Rhetoric, an enthymeme was a "rhetorical syllogism" which was based on probable opinions, thus distinguishing it from a scientific syllogism. It aimed at persuasion whilst scientific syllogism aimed at demonstration .

Enthymeme's three parts

The following quotation is an example of an enthymeme (used for humorous effect).
   "There is no law against composing music when one has no ideas whatsoever. The music of Wagner, therefore, is perfectly legal." —Mark Twain.
   The three parts:
ť There is no law against composing music when one has no ideas whatsoever. (premise)

   The music of Wagner, therefore, is perfectly legal. (conclusion) ť Wagner has no ideas. (implicit premise)

Further examples

First example: Socrates is mortal because he's human.
   The complete syllogism would be the classic:
ť All humans are mortal. (major premise - assumed)

   Socrates is human. (minor premise - stated) ť Therefore, Socrates is mortal. (conclusion - stated)

Second example: "The glove doesn't fit [thedefendant], so you must acquit."
   This argument is based on one used by Johnnie Cochran in his defense of O.J. Simpson.
   The complete syllogism would be:
ť If evidence doesn't fit the defendant, then acquittal is required (major premise - assumed)

   The glove doesn't fit the defendant. (minor premise - stated) ť The glove is evidence. (minor premise - assumed)

   Therefore, you must acquit the defendant. (conclusion - stated)
   Stating the argument in this extended form suggests the argument is incomplete. For example, one might be more likely to ask if the glove might have shrunk, ask how "fit" is determined, or ask about the meaning of the expression the glove: What do you mean the glove?. The presence of the definite article the suggests that there's a definite descriptor phrase with the same meaning in this context. Examples of such phrases could be

The glove found at the scene of the crime
The glove used by the assailant. For some definite descriptor phrases, the major premise of the above syllogism is suspect.

Hidden premises are often an effective way to obscure a questionable or fallacious premise in reasoning. Typically fallacies of presumption (fallacies based on mistaken assumptions, such as ad hominem or two wrongs make a right) are attracted to enthymeme.

Enthymeme use in humor

Enthymeme can be a humorous technique when the hidden premise is something surprising due to the context, its offensiveness or its absurdity.

Example

ť "Now, I don't know or have never met my candidate; and for that reason I'm more apt to say something good of him than anyone else." - Will Rogers.

Use in advertising

Advertisers rarely draw out the links between the images they show and the product they wish to sell. There is no logical connection between a beautiful woman draped across the hood of a red sports car and the value of the car itself, but the advertiser implies a premise that there is. If the advertiser instead simply stated, "Buy this car and you'll have more sexual satisfaction" it would be easier to reject as a premise.
To use another example, advertisers often show examples of people enjoying their product. They never actually state that the viewer should purchase the product or service that's bringing the people such enjoyment; it's an implied major premise.

Further Information

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