Almost too simple to be true
A tautology in logic, or rather warped logic, refers to a proposition that is either true by definition, or... More on tautology (continued from last week).
A tautology in logic, or rather warped logic, refers to a proposition that is either true by definition, or is necessarily true (which makes its statement redundant).
William Tsamis, in a glossary of philosophical terms, explains: "For instance, 'All triangles have three sides' is an inherently true proposition, but it doesn't tell us anything new". Tsamis hence calls it "a nonsensical statement".
In a journalistic example, reporters are advised against quoting officials when they tell the truth, that is, when the "truth" they tell is so true as to be meaningless.
If a government minister says, for example, "Beijing is the capital city of China", he's obviously speaking with a clear conscience and making a heart-felt confession without trying to hide anything (pertaining to that fact) from you. But don't put that remark in between quotation marks and attribute it to him.
At a risk of sounding tautological myself, let me repeat. Do not write: "Beijing is the capital city of China, says the minister". A sentence like that makes both of you look silly. Quote the minister instead on something original.
That's not possible, you say? Well, I understand how rare it is to hear anything original from government officials these days. Still, it's no excuse for putting platitudes like that in between the quote marks.
Over there yonder across the pond, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, however, feels that Americans need to be constantly reminded of some simple truths even at the risk of sounding tautological.
Olbermann, who has often been critical of the current US Administration, explained some of his "anti-Bush orations" in a chat with Salon.com
"It sounds almost like a tautology, almost too simple to be true," Olbermann said, before adding that what he does "is the sort of stuff people on television ought to be doing, and it doesn't matter who's running the country.
"The country belongs to the people, not to the government that happens to be in charge at the moment. We should remind ourselves of that fact periodically."
英语四六级考前备战英语完型填空
英语四六级名师详解12月新四级听力的高分攻略
写在四六级考前的整体战略短期内迅速突破
确保四六级考试成功的十大法则
名师预测作文可能考校园生活相关的话题
名师指点英语四级考前突破和应考准备
大学英语710分新英语四级考试四大变化
大学英语四六级听力长对话及短文高分必夺
名师考前指导英语四六级完型填空的做题技巧
四六级考试专家提建议要合理分配时间
英语四六级选择填空
新英语四级阅读理解中15选10题型高分策略
英语四六级作文记叙文题型作文的写作步骤
英语新四级综合题高分备考策略
英语六级考试作文范文
怎样用超精读法提升英语四六级阅读理解能力
新四级考前复习计划根据不同科目分别准备
备战英语四级口语考试加分佳句
边听边记短期提高新英语四六级考试的得分
名师点评英语四六级考试真题
两大法宝解决四六级考试快速阅读难题
名师点评2013年12月22日英语四六级真题
大学英语四级英汉词汇的互译方法
英语四级考试阅读备考策略
四六级听力对话中的转折关系中but句型
大学英语四六级考试作文冲刺点拨助你拿高分
成功英语四级学习者走过的路都一样
大学英语四六级听力长对话以及短文高分必夺
名师支招四六级考试最后阶段复习
新大学英语四六级备考攻略重视高频词汇
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |