What is the term for the unstated elements within rhetoric and/or their use?


I've always understood that the term rhetoric specifically referred to the conveyance of some concept that is not represented at all in the literal meaning of the words used.


A few examples:
These refugees just keep crossing our borders.
Their crossing of borders is axiomatically bad.


If you prick us, do we not bleed?
We are the same.


These so-called experts think we need more supervision.
We don't need more supervision, and their expertise is in question.


I've just started digging into the subject of rhetoric, and found I've been very wrong in my definition, but still find the concept of that unstated component interesting.


Is there a term for it, and if so, what is it?



Answer



An argument with an unstated but implied premise is an enthymeme.


From the Silva Rhetoricae:



Enthymeme



  1. The informal method of reasoning typical of rhetorical discourse. The enthymeme is sometimes defined as a "truncated syllogism" since either the major or minor premise found in that more formal method of reasoning is left implied. The enthymeme typically occurs as a conclusion coupled with a reason. When several enthymemes are linked together, this becomes sorites.



The implicit premise itself doesn't have a dedicated term which I'm aware of, but you might call it a enthymemetic premise or a suppressed premise or even a tacit premise (as opposed to an explicit premise).


These are the kinds of premises embedded, but hidden, in loaded questions (in fact, they are the very thing the question is loaded with!).


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