An enthymeme is a type of argument that is missing one or more premises, which are assumed to be true by the speaker or audience. It is a shortened form of syllogism and relies on the listener or reader to fill in the gaps. Enthymemes are commonly used in everyday conversations, debates, and persuasive speeches.
Enthymeme is a fancy word that denotes the practice of leaving things out of your argument. Sometimes you will do so consciously; sometimes unconsciously. If you're reading this, it is because you have done so unconsciously, and I want to point it out to you.
Here are a few examples of enthymemes:
She's a great athlete; she'll win the championship. The missing premise (the unspoken assumption on the part of the speaker) is that great athletes always win championships.
The economy is doing well because the unemployment rate is low. The missing premise (the unspoken assumption on the part of the speaker) is that low unemployment is an indicator of a healthy economy.
He's a liar, so you can't trust what he says. The missing premise (the unspoken assumption on the part of the speaker) is that liars always lie.
She's an expert in her field, so her opinion is valuable. The missing premise (the unspoken assumption on the part of the speaker) is that experts always have valuable opinions.
You should exercise regularly for your health. The missing premises here are that (i) exercise is good for your health and (ii) that exercise should be done regularly. Or maybe the speaker is just making one assumption about regular exercise being good. The distinction is not all that interesting: what is important and interesting is the fact that one or more assumptions are being made (by you or by another writer).
He's a doctor, so he knows what he's talking about. The missing premise (the unspoken assumption on the part of the speaker) is that doctors are wise, well-informed and learned (which is what the Latin word "doctor" means, so this particular enthymeme is embedded deeply in our culture).
The vocabulary and syntax are both simple and straightforward, which enables the reader to reach a deep understanding of the character's thoughts and feelings. The missing premise in this sentence, which is taken from an analysis and commentary on Hemingway's technique, is that simple language facilitates deep understanding of character. Like, maybe? It is in any case an assumption, especially since not all authors choose simple language.
If you're so clever, why aren't you rich? The missing premise is that all intelligent people will seek and obtain wealth, or that all intelligent people are rewarded with wealth.
The company is profitable because it has a good business strategy. The missing premise is that a good business strategy (as opposed to, say, monopoly power, or indifference to human and ecological harm) always leads to profitability.
She's always late, so she must be unreliable. The missing premise, with which I absolutely sympathize (remember, the assumption can as well be true as false), is that people who are always late are always unreliable.
So is it a good thing to use an enthymeme or not? Well, it depends; but consider also that I would not have sent you to this page unless I thought your particular use of it on this occasion was problematic. If you're here, it's because your enthymeme does not convince me.
If you are unconsciously skipping explanations because you make the mistake of thinking that the reader will easily be able to follow your thoughts, then, yes, your enthymeme is problematic.
If you skip a step in your argument because it depends on a particular religious or political belief that YOU consider so normal and right that it does not need explaining, then you will fail to convince a reader who does not happen to share the same belief.
And that is where a hostile reader will go to pick holes in your argument.
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