Enthymeme
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An enthymeme (Greek: ἐνθύμημα, enthýmēma), 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 is assumed. In a broader usage, the term "enthymeme" is sometimes used to describe an incomplete argument of forms other than the syllogism,[1] or a less-than-100% argument.[2] 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 [3].
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[edit] Examples
[edit] Informal Syllogism
- "Socrates is mortal because he's human."
- The complete syllogism would be the classic:
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- All humans are mortal. (major premise - assumed)
- Socrates is human. (minor premise - stated)
- Therefore, Socrates is mortal. (conclusion - stated)
[edit] Maxim, or a less-than-100% argument
- "Aristotle noted that most arguments take the form of an "enthymeme" ("EN-thu-miem"), an incomplete or not-quite-air-tight syllogism. “Free trade is good” or “Taxes reduce output” are enthymemes, not-syllogistic arguments. The average French economist may find such arguments 45 percent true, the average American economist 80 percent true. Arguing an enthymeme is successful when the economist defends the 45 or 80 percent true as “true enough.” Economics, like other sciences, works in approximations."[2]
[edit] Notes
Many enthymemes may fit into two broad categories.[citation needed]
- The implied premise is obvious
- The implied premise is dubious
An example of the second reason would be, "Of course he is dumb, he is a human." The implied premise is "All humans are dumb," which can be proven false by proving that at least one human is not "dumb," so the premise is left out in the hopes that the listener might not realize what was implied. When used in daily conversation, the implied premise is usually less obvious.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ Audi, R. (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy - 2nd ed., pp. 257, 267. Cambridge University Press, 1999.
- ^ a b Klamer, Arjo; McCloskey, Deirdre N. and Ziliak, Stephen (18 May 2007). "Is There Life after Samuelson’s Economics? Changing the Textbooks". Post-Autistic Economics Review (Post-autistic Economics Network) (42): 2-7. http://www.paecon.net/PAEReview/issue42/KlamerMcCloskeyZiliak42.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-05-18.
- ^ Aristotle, Rhetoric, book I, 1 and 2
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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