The Deepity Fallacy
A statement that seems profound but is either trivially true or meaningless upon scrutiny.
- •Definition: A statement that seems profound but is either trivially true or meaningless upon scrutiny.
- •Impact: Deepity distorts reasoning by It trades on vagueness and emotional resonance instead of clear, testable claims, making critical evaluation hard.
- •Identify: Look for patterns like Present an ambiguous, lofty statement.
What is the Deepity fallacy?
Deepities rely on ambiguity and layered meanings to appear insightful. One reading is banal but true; another is exciting but false or nonsensical.
People lean on this pattern because It impresses or inspires without committing to specifics; it’s memorable and hard to criticize without seeming contrarian.
- 1Present an ambiguous, lofty statement.
- 2Let the audience supply a profound-sounding interpretation.
- 3Avoid specific, testable content.
Why the Deepity fallacy matters
This fallacy distorts reasoning by It trades on vagueness and emotional resonance instead of clear, testable claims, making critical evaluation hard.. It often shows up in contexts like Philosophical chatter, Marketing slogans, Motivational talk, where quick takes and ambiguity can hide weak arguments.
Examples of Deepity in Everyday Life
In debates, phrases like “reality is an illusion” are used to sidestep concrete discussion, sounding profound without actionable meaning.
Why it is fallacious
It trades on vagueness and emotional resonance instead of clear, testable claims, making critical evaluation hard.
Why people use it
It impresses or inspires without committing to specifics; it’s memorable and hard to criticize without seeming contrarian.
Recognition
- Ambiguous, poetic phrasing with no clear testable claim.
- Multiple readings: one trivial, one dubious.
- Pushback is framed as lacking insight.
Response
- Ask for a clear, single meaning or concrete implications.
- Separate the trivial reading from the intended strong claim.
- Request evidence or examples tied to a specific interpretation.
- “Deepity” style claim: A statement that seems profound but is either trivially true or meaningless upon scrutiny.
- Watch for phrasing that skips evidence, e.g. "A statement that seems profound but is either trivially true or meaningless upon scrutiny"
- Pattern hint: Present an ambiguous, lofty statement.
Ask for a clear, single meaning or concrete implications.
Deepity is often mistaken for Glittering Generalities, but the patterns differ. Compare the steps above to see why this fallacy misleads in its own way.
Close variations that are easy to confuse with Deepity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deepity signals a weak reasoning pattern. Even if the conclusion is true, the path to it is unreliable and should be rebuilt with sound support.
Deepity follows the pattern listed here, while Glittering Generalities fails in a different way. Looking at the pattern helps choose the right diagnosis.
You will find it in everyday debates, opinion columns, marketing claims, and quick social posts—anywhere speed or emotion encourages shortcuts.
It can feel persuasive, but it remains logically weak. A careful version should replace the fallacious step with evidence or valid structure.