The Enthymeme

The Enthymeme, Volume 1, provides a critical examination of one of the most fundamental concepts in rhetorical theory. Author James Fredal challenges the traditional definition of the enthymeme as a truncated syllogism, arguing that this standard interpretation of Aristotle is inaccurate. Through a detailed analysis of the Rhetoric, Topics, and Analytics, the text explores how Aristotle distorted the actual function of the device.

This work of philosophy and communication studies redefines the enthymeme as a technique of forensic storytelling rather than a tool of formal logic. By analyzing the works of Attic orators like Lysias and Isaeus, Fredal demonstrates how narrative serves as the foundation for rhetoric. This scholarly study of ancient Greece and classical rhetoric offers a new perspective for students of literary criticism and logic.