Sunday, May 8, 2011

Enthymeme

The Technical Stuff:
Enthymeme is an informally-stated syllogism which omits either one of the premises or the conclusion. The omitted part must be clearly understood by the reader. The usual form of this logical shorthand omits the major premise.

Example:
"Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown. Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious."
(Mark Antony speaking of Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar III.ii)
 

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