Enthymemes, Doxa, and the Problem of Elided Syllogism

Abstract

ABSTRACT The concept of enthymeme has been discussed by rhetoricians and communication scholars. However, researchers have not been able to come to a clear understanding about its meaning, function, and how it works within the rhetorical, persuasive processes. This article identifies the meaning of the concept and explain how enthymemes work. The article also distinguishes the enthymeme from its logical counterpart – syllogism – and explains how its primary source is doxastic, rather than epistemic, knowledge.