Finding an enthymeme was really difficult for me at first, but I think that's because I didn't fully understand the concept behind the term. Which, is what I think the whole point to this posting is. I could be way off, but I think I saw some enthymeme's in this video below. I guess I really just don't understand enough to know whether this is an example of enthymeme's or not. The whole concept just hurts my brain all together.
Towards the end, Jon Tester's wife, Sharla, says this, "...caring as deeply about the next generation as the people who came before cared about us. Now that's the Montana way." Jon Tester then proceeds with, "Worry a lot more about the next generation needs to be the American way again too." The video then concludes with Tester driving a combine - typical.
I found online a definition of enthymeme that helped put things into a better perspective for me. This site defined it as, "The speaker builds an argument with one element removed, leading listeners to fill in the missing piece." I understood this by looking at the quote from the Tester campaign ad. Their words kind of imply that this is how Montanans do government, so this is how America needs to do government. Their two claims led me to believe in a claim that was not explicitly stated at all.
Like I said though, I could be way off base with this analysis. I tried, but Aristotle, my goodness... why are you so confusing?
Darn you Aristotle! I know I had the same problem when I was first looking for enthymemes. I like your definition of enthymeme alot better. It is easier to find them if you can find the premis's. Also, it seems that a lot of these political enthymemes dont follow the classic model, making them more difficult to find.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is exactly where I'm struggling! Political enthymemes are hard to grasp onto because they don't follow the classic model. Sometimes I think I'm just reading a little too far in between the lines to really get at what they're saying. This is what makes the political side difficult, though. Politicians are trained rhetors and even their speech writers know what to say to hide the holes in their arguments. While the enthymemes are hidden well, they really are there - you just have to dig them out. It's like Branch said, it's just like a puzzle game to fit it all together.
DeleteHey, that chicken song is kinda catchy.
ReplyDeleteOk, why not just jump in with the chicken commercial...here goes:
Enthymeme: Rehberg was a "no-show" for a debate with Tester. Rehberg did not show because he was afraid that Tester would beat him in the debate. Rehberg was scared, therefore he is a chicken. You shouldn't vote for a chicken or a poor debater because courage and the ability to articulate one's position are essential skills of any congressman.
Enthymeme #2: chickens are hilarious. You should be laughing when you watch this.
Yeah it's catchy! I played it many times in a row looking for enthymemes. When I got to the third time, my roommate totally wanted to murder me...
DeleteI thought it was interesting that they included a bar scene in the chicken video. I was kinda like, well aren't you glad ya didn't find him there?
ReplyDeleteIt's funny too that in the second video, Tester simply doesn't talk too much about the economy. That seems to be the main theme everywhere else, but he is talking about the "Montana way."
Molly - you're on the right track here, I think. Enthymeme's are a tricky business, I agree, and they are hard to pin down, and it's hard to say for certain: okay I found it! because it is only implied in the first place. But you're getting closer. It helps to identify the premises that are stated, and then identify the conclusions, and figure out what you have to believe in addition to the stated premises that will allow you to believe the conclusion.
ReplyDeleteTester's ad seems to work of an enthymeme about what it means to be a true Montanan, which can also be understood as pushing against Rehberg, even though Tester never says his name. Rehberg gets maligned as a "gentleman rancher," but we get pictures of Tester out there actually "ranching," which makes him (in a premise that isn't stated) an "authentic Montanan" which is to say, he has the sorts of values that play into the premise you also suggest (and I think you're onto something here): i.e. Montana values should be American values.
It matters to try though, is part of my point. Just doing that has gotten you through much of the hard part!
Oh how I am so tired of Tester using the "Montana way" bullshit excuse! I cant stand Rehberg either....they are both bitching about who is better for the environment, yet they both are in favor of thr pipeline! This will truly be an election that decides who is the smaller bag of cow crap!
ReplyDelete