In no nation are the fruits of accomplishment more secure. In no
nation is the government more worthy of respect. No country is more
loved by its people.
~ President Herbert Hoovers Inaugural Speech
Contemporary Culture
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DIRECTV Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v-JuG6YMqI
Contemporary Culture
Contemporary Culture
Photo Credit: Calvin and Hobbes: Attack of the Deranged Mutant
Killer Monster Snow Goons
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The use of an inadequate generalization, dicto simpliciter is
often found in childrens literature, political speeches, and
television advertisement, with the intentions to entice the
audience. In the first example, the rabbit is pointing out a
strange beam of light; without proven qualifications, it
generalizes that it must be aliens visiting us from another planet.
The rabbit bases its observation off of an opinion due to prior
experienceunaware of other possibilities. Presidents are also
guilty of using dicto simpliciter within their speeches. In this
case, the 31st president, Herbert Hoover, displays fallacious
deceit within his inaugural speech by assuming that no country is
more loved by its people in the United States of America. Without
considering every individuals political view, he presumes that
citizens devote themselves to the country. Aside from governmental
topics, this fallacy can be found in Calvin and Hobbes: a popular
comic among youth. In the comic, Calvin theorizes that math is not
a science, it is a religion. He concludes that [math is] a
religion! Lacking logical explanation, Calvin presents a bias
argument on the purpose of education and schooling. In the
commercial business, persuasive fallacies are used to attract the
viewers into purchasing the advertised product. DIRECTV uses dicto
simpliciter in its well-known commercials; a chain of events that
leads to the audience being told to get rid of cable, and upgrade
to DIRECTV. Using this method of exaggerated statements, the
commercial serves to convince the general public into seeing the
reason behind a product even though it used false generalizations.
Dicto simpliciter proves to be an effective subterfuge used to
influence the beliefs and decisions of society.
Hoover, Herbert C. "Swearing-In Ceremony for President Herbert
C. Hoover." Herbert Hoover, 1929. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.
