Dicto

Simpliciter
Matt Kandler, Reed
Canavan, Dakota
Bartosch

Definition
An argument based on an unqualified generalization.

Presidential Use of Dicto Simpliciter

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 (quote found at scribd.com)

Analysis of Herbert Hoovers Dicto

Simpliciter

This quote, spoken by one of Americas Presidents, Herbert Hoover, which he stated
during his Inaugural Speech, is a prime example of a Dicto Simpliciter. This was
spoken to the general American public, to excite them and invoke a nationalistic
attitude, similar to a lovemark of a product. While the use of a periodic paragraph
certainly has strong impact on the audience, the Dicto Simpliciter has an even more
powerful effect. The bold claim that In no nation is the government more worthy of
respect suggests that the American government is absolutely superior to all other
forms of government, and while some aspects are significantly better than a
different government, it is an obvious generalization to state that the American
government is of a higher quality than others. Dicto Simpliciter is a fallacy that lurks
everywhere, even in the words of a President.

Use of Dicto Simpliciter in Advertisements

Use of Dicto Simpliciter in Advertisements

Restaurant title
pops out and
catches eye.

Pitch white background facilitates a lively color

contrast between the blacks and the reds, making the
ad and slogan more noticeable.

Symmetrical layout makes the ad far more

appealing to the eye.

Rhyme scheme
certainly
improves
slogan
memorability
and assists in
driving home
the message
consistently
and
effectively.

Analysis of Arbys use of Dicto Simpliciter

Good Mood Food: The unqualified generalization here is the Good Mood
supposedly elicited by Arbys Food. The conclusion being made upon this
generalization is that the Food is in fact, itself, representative of a good mood, and
will cause people that eat it to enjoy such a Good Mood. This conclusion is
unverifiable, as a Good Mood is triggered in humans by individual, subjective
stimuli; like a reptilian hot button. The Good Mood Food of Arbys cannot elicit this
response universally, as a point of overwhelming probable fact, and therefore this
sentiment of theirs is incorrect according to the Dicto Simpliciter fallacy, as their
conclusion is based on an unqualified generalization, so their subliminal argument
(that you should eat this food to get into a good mood) is thereby flawed. The
typography used in the ad is sleek, large, and bright, and is symmetrically formatted
to be as noticeable and legible as possible.

Hawley Griffin raves: Its clearly one of the best televisions on the market!

Everyone is getting one!

Its hard to see why you wouldnt get an INVISITV too!
A customers review: After I let my kids watch INVISITV, they all
started to succeed in school. Its crystal clear that everyones kids should watch INVISITV!

Analysis of our advertisement

Our product, INVISITV, is a television with an invisible screen. It itself is not representative of
the Dicto Simpliciter fallacy in any way, but our customer review of it certainly is. Within the
review, the logical fallacy of Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc is used to make this unqualified
generalization: that the watching of INVISITV directly improves the scholastic capabilities of
children. Our customer pursues this fallacy with the announcement: everyones kids should
watch INVISITV! thereby tying off the simpliciter perfectly, having constructed this argument
on the foundation of an unqualified generalization. Other logical fallacies we implemented in
our ad include ad verecundiam, wherein the will of the majority ( Everyone) is cited as reason
enough to purchase our product. Our chosen method of typography was stern and classical for
quotes (to convey an attitude of reliability), and zippy and lively for the centered exclamation
(to instill a sensation of casual urgency in the potential customer). The chosen font for the title
card plays to the gimmick of the product being sold in that its text begins to fade into the
obscurity of our background as its read. The background color was selected deliberately to
elicit calming emotions through its light wear on a persons sight.

Bibliography
Hoover, Herbert. "Inaugural Address of Herbert Hoover." Lillian Goldman Law Library. Yale Law School, 2008. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
Jayme. "Arbys Chicken Salad Sandwich Taste-off." The Tater Twins. WordPress, 12 May 2011. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
Naham, Haley. "Still the Best Medicine....." : USA Stereotype Map. Blogger, 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2016

Watterson, Bill. N.p.: n.p., 1992. Print.