Aetiologia
Giving a reason immediately after making a claim, so assertion and cause arrive together.
Aetiologia (Greek aitia, 'cause') is the figure of the attached reason: a statement is made and its justification follows in the same breath, usually introduced by 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Classical rhetoric treats it as a compression of the syllogism. Rather than laying out premises and conclusion, the speaker fuses claim and ground into one movement, which sounds like confidence rather than like argument.
It is the engine of aphorism. A great many memorable maxims are claim-plus-cause in a single sentence, which is why they feel argued even though nothing has been demonstrated.
Common mistake: attaching a reason that merely restates the claim. 'We must act, for action is needed' has the shape of aetiologia and none of its substance — readers notice the circle quickly.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Keep reading the glossary
A compressed syllogism in which one premise is left unstated, to be supplied by the audience.
A short, weighty statement of general truth used to close or crown a passage of argument.
A short, sharp statement that compresses a truth or observation into a single line.
An added phrase that explains or specifies what was just said.