ignotum per ignotius
C2Academic, Scholarly, Critic
Definition
Meaning
Explaining the unknown by means of something even more unknown
A fallacious argument or explanation that uses a more obscure, complex, or unfamiliar concept to clarify a less familiar one, resulting in circular or unhelpful reasoning. Used to describe pseudoscientific, overly technical, or deliberately obfuscating explanations.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a Latin phrase used as a loan phrase in English. It functions as a noun phrase (e.g., 'committing ignotum per ignotius') and is often italicized. It carries a distinctly negative, critical connotation, implying intellectual dishonesty or incompetence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties; it is a scholarly Latin phrase with no regional adaptation.
Connotations
Strongly negative in academic and critical discourse. Suggests the explanation is not just wrong but fundamentally flawed in its methodology.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency, confined to highly educated, often philosophical, scientific, or critical texts and speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The argument [VERB] ignotum per ignotius.He [VERB] the phenomenon via ignotum per ignotius.[NOUN PHRASE] is a case of ignotum per ignotius.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To use a sledgehammer to crack a nut (partial conceptual overlap in complexity)”
- “To blind with science”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used critically in consultancy or analysis to describe a business model explanation that uses impenetrable jargon to hide a lack of substance.
Academic
Primary context. Used in philosophy of science, critical theory, and rhetoric to critique flawed explanatory models.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in scientific and technical writing to criticise papers or theories that explain poorly understood results with even more speculative hypotheses.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The philosopher dismissed the theory as an ignotum per ignotius argument.
American English
- He provided an ignotum per ignotius justification for the failed experiment.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The manager's explanation was so full of technical jargon it became an ignotum per ignotius for the team.
- The article's critique hinged on accusing the author of ignotum per ignotius, using quantum mechanics metaphors to explain basic social behaviour.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a teacher trying to explain a difficult word (IGNOTUM) by using an even more difficult, unknown word (IGNOTIUS). The student is left more confused, just like the phrase sounds: 'ig-NO-tum' makes you say 'huh?', and 'ig-NO-tius' makes you say 'HUH?!'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPLANATION IS ILLUMINATION / OBSCURITY IS CONFUSION. Using ignotum per ignotius is like trying to light a dark room (unknown concept) by lighting an even darker, more distant room (more unknown concept).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation attempts like 'неизвестное через более неизвестное'. The phrase is a fixed Latin term.
- Do not confuse with 'obscurum per obscurius', a near-synonymous Latin phrase with the same meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'ignotium per ignotum' or 'ignotus per ignotium'.
- Using it to simply mean 'a complicated explanation' without the core element of the explaining thing being *more* obscure.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the first syllable (IG-notum).
Practice
Quiz
What is the core criticism embodied by 'ignotum per ignotius'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a Latin phrase used as a loan phrase within English, primarily in academic and critical contexts. It should be italicized in formal writing.
No, it is far too specialized and formal. Using it in casual conversation would likely be an example of the very thing it describes.
They are essentially synonymous. 'Ignotum per ignotius' (unknown by more unknown) is slightly more common, while 'obscurum per obscurius' (obscure by more obscure) carries the same meaning.
Yes, it is considered a fallacious form of explanation because it fails to provide actual clarity and often intentionally or unintentionally misleads by adding complexity.