Truism

Truism is usually a derogatory term for an undoubted saying or phrase that has become so worn that its original meaning fades into the background in favor of a use as a rhetorical automatism. With the utterance of platitudes, a strong claim can be connected to represent the views of the majority of public opinion or common sense.

Origin

The general opinion is when the term is a loan translation of Latin locus communis, universal set 'or commonly known expression '; thus were meant in antiquity memorized sentences. The dating of the introduction to the German language ranges from the 15th century to the 18th century. So Wieland said to have coined this term in 1770.

Other authors suggest an influence of English common place.

Formerly called the term a commonplace topos (Greek τόπος topos, place ',' place ' ), that is always a reusable aspect and artifice in the rhetoric. For each of the present case, there are a number of aspects that you need to consider when you want to be its complexity justice. Finding these factors facilitates founded by the Greek philosopher Aristotle Topik: This assumes that the unlimited number of individual cases under a limited number of general points of view can be in submission, and that you therefore also reversed certain viewing and modes of representation to a variety of can apply individual cases.

General

The platitude often seems only to bring a generally shared and stable prejudice expressed and its use to be an expression of a lack of critical distance to situation, circumstances and his own person. However, it is questionable whether the truism used corresponds to their own convictions (which would be prejudiced and uncritical ) or just a task of its own interiority in favor of acceptance is through conformity, as Adorno diagnosed in jargon of authenticity for a special case. However, depending on whether the required tone made ​​and the inclusion is granted, the use of commonplaces can also be taken as a mere platitude.

Commonplaces are rated but not always negative: "Word templates have a great advantage: they facilitate the sharing of our inner and outer experiences. But sometimes they also become independent. Each of us carries his beloved platitudes around with you and leaves his fellows participate in it. " Since language the people here is not only helpful to develop new ideas and to communicate, but also in the establishment and continuation of social contacts, there will be opportunities can imagine where platitudes fulfill a positive function ( pragmatics ). Thus, the repeated utterance of a truism in certain situations, to express sympathy and offer comfort. Rhetorically, the commonplace legitimizing be used (see argumentum ad populum ).

Not only individual phrases, phrases, and schemas can thereby assume the character of commonplaces, but also whole conversation situations: For example, if the host of a television show a prominent guest asks the rhetorical question, what he thinks the public or the city, this only serves as a hanger, to the guest to give opportunity to praise the audience or the city and admire. The whole situation is usually used to exchange trivialities and formal compliments.

Flaubert's Dictionary of platitudes

When searching for a " truism" one comes quickly to the " Dictionary of commonplaces " of the French novelist Gustave Flaubert ( 1821-1880 ). This German version is a transfer, not a translation, as the editor of the publishing house carries in the preface. In the original French title " Dictionnaire des idées reçues " appears the phrase " idées reçues " on, so " outdated ideas " - traditional thought and expression schemes - are meant. Among them there are also commonplace, but cliches, puns and jokes, as well as "people's stupidity " congealed former brainstorms. It is therefore by no means exclusively a collection of "common places ".

Examples

• Not for school, we learn for life.
• Taste can not argue.
• Investment in education is an investment in the future.
• Software needs to be tested sufficiently to keep them running as error free.
• A broken childhood is not a free pass for murder and manslaughter.
• In the end everything will be fine.