Ipse dixit
Encyclopedia
Ipse dixit is a Latin
phrase meaning he himself said it. The term labels a dogmatic statement asserted but not proved, to be accepted on faith in the speaker.
The legal and philosophical principle of "Ipse dixit" involves an unproven assertion, which is claimed to be authoritative because "[Latin 'he himself said it.'"] It is asserted, but not proved, for example: "His testimony that she was a liar was nothing more than an ipse dixit."
In the Middle Ages
, scholars often applied the term to justify arguments if they had been used by Aristotle
.
, in De Natura Deorum
(I, 5), refers to Pythagoras
's students debating, saying "ipse dixit", that is, "he said it himself", speaking of Pythagoras, whose authority they considered strong "even without reason".
adapted the term ipse-dixit into the word ipse-dixitism, which he coined to apply to all non-utilitarian political arguments. This altered term has been used in modern legal and administrative decisions, general as a criticism of arguments based solely upon the authority of a given organization. For example, a 1997 dispute challenged the constitutionality
of Indiana’s system of taxing real property. The Indiana Supreme Court held that the system violated the Indiana
Constitution, because: "the only standard that is ascertainable is one of ipse-dixitism: 1) value is whatever the State Board’s regulations declare it to be, and 2) the State Board’s regulations can be modified and interpreted in any manner that the State Board wishes." Similarly, a dissenting opinion to a 1976 safety-commission report accuses two commissioners (Barnanko and Cleary) of relying on an unsupported assertion: "The same holds true for the Barnako-Cleary ipse-dixitism — repeated again in this case — concerning the status of an unreviewed Judge's decision. Not once have they ever cited any authority for that assertion."
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
phrase meaning he himself said it. The term labels a dogmatic statement asserted but not proved, to be accepted on faith in the speaker.
The legal and philosophical principle of "Ipse dixit" involves an unproven assertion, which is claimed to be authoritative because "[Latin 'he himself said it.'"] It is asserted, but not proved, for example: "His testimony that she was a liar was nothing more than an ipse dixit."
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, scholars often applied the term to justify arguments if they had been used by Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
.
Origin
CiceroCicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
, in De Natura Deorum
De Natura Deorum
De Natura Deorum is a philosophical dialogue by Roman orator Cicero written in 45 BC. It is laid out in three "books", each of which discuss the theology of different Roman and Greek philosophers...
(I, 5), refers to Pythagoras
Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Most of the information about Pythagoras was written down centuries after he lived, so very little reliable information is known about him...
's students debating, saying "ipse dixit", that is, "he said it himself", speaking of Pythagoras, whose authority they considered strong "even without reason".
Examples
- The Martian roundhead Willis announces that he wants to stay with his human friend Jim. Doctor MacRae says, "Ipse dixit - keep him with you." Frank asks, "What does ipse dixit mean?" MacRae replies, "It means, 'He sure said a mouthful'."
- — Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. HeinleinRobert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
, Red Planet (novel)Red Planet (novel)Red Planet is a 1949 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about students at boarding school on the planet Mars. It represents the first appearance of Heinlein's idealized Martian elder race...
- "Mr. Lincoln has not character enough for integrity and truth, merely on his own ipse dixit, to arraign President Buchanan, President Pierce, and nine Judges of the Supreme Court, not one of whom would be complimented by being put on an equality with him. There is an unpardonable presumption in a man putting himself up before thousands of people, and pretending that his ipse dixit, without proof, without fact, and without truth, is enough to bring down and destroy the purest and best of living men."
- — Stephen A. DouglasStephen A. DouglasStephen Arnold Douglas was an American politician from the western state of Illinois, and was the Northern Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860. He lost to the Republican Party's candidate, Abraham Lincoln, whom he had defeated two years earlier in a Senate contest following a famed...
, Rejoinder at Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858
Ipse-dixitism
Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham was an English jurist, philosopher, and legal and social reformer. He became a leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law, and a political radical whose ideas influenced the development of welfarism...
adapted the term ipse-dixit into the word ipse-dixitism, which he coined to apply to all non-utilitarian political arguments. This altered term has been used in modern legal and administrative decisions, general as a criticism of arguments based solely upon the authority of a given organization. For example, a 1997 dispute challenged the constitutionality
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
of Indiana’s system of taxing real property. The Indiana Supreme Court held that the system violated the Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
Constitution, because: "the only standard that is ascertainable is one of ipse-dixitism: 1) value is whatever the State Board’s regulations declare it to be, and 2) the State Board’s regulations can be modified and interpreted in any manner that the State Board wishes." Similarly, a dissenting opinion to a 1976 safety-commission report accuses two commissioners (Barnanko and Cleary) of relying on an unsupported assertion: "The same holds true for the Barnako-Cleary ipse-dixitism — repeated again in this case — concerning the status of an unreviewed Judge's decision. Not once have they ever cited any authority for that assertion."
See also
- Argument from authorityArgument from authorityArgument from authority is a special type of inductive argument which often takes the form of a statistical syllogism....
- False dilemmaFalse dilemmaA false dilemma is a type of logical fallacy that involves a situation in which only two alternatives are considered, when in fact there are additional options...
- Law of similars
- The Moon is made of green cheeseThe Moon is made of green cheese"The Moon is made of green cheese" is a statement referring to a fanciful belief that the Moon is composed of cheese. In its original formulation as a proverb and metaphor for credulity with roots in fable, this refers to the perception of a simpleton who sees a reflection of the Moon in water and...
-- compare