Dogbert the Enthymeme Master

(PLEASE CLICK IMAGE FOR FULL COMIC STRIP)

An enthymeme is a stated three-part deductive argument in which the argument contains an assumption that must be true for the premises to lead to the conclusion. In an enthymeme, part of the argument is missing because it is assumed. An example of an enthymeme would be the famous quote form Mark Twain, “There is no law against composing music when one has no ideas whatsoever. The music of Wagner, therefore, is perfectly legal” (1). This enthymeme states the premise first and then the conclusion but the audience is expected to gather the implicit premise that the musician Wagner has no ideas. In Scott Adams’ October 8, 2008, Dilbert comic strip Dogbert can be found using his own style of enthymeme. The comic strip starts with Dogbert telling the workforce, “There is an ugly rumor that I sold your brains to cannibals and your spirits to demons” (2). While Dogbert is claiming that this new information is just rumor, in reality this information is the premise for his enthymeme and it is followed by maniacal laughter which serves as a conclusion. The implicit premise left for the reader and the workforce is that, “Dogbert is happy about his recent cannibalistic and demonic transaction.” It would have taken away from the punch line of the comic strip if Dogbert had said, “And action this makes me happy,” before laughing. So the implicit premise is implied as he skips that middle part and gets straight to the evil laughing.

(1) Mark Twain: The National
(2) Scott Adams: Dilbert.