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Simple English definitions for legal terms
ipse dixit
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A quick definition of ipse dixit:
Ipse dixit means "he said it himself" in Latin. It refers to when someone makes a statement without any proof or authority to back it up. This usually means the person is claiming to be an authority on the subject, but they don't have any evidence to support their claim. In legal situations, ipse dixit is used to criticize arguments that rely solely on authority without any proof. For example, an expert's ipse dixit is not enough to prove something; they must explain how they came to their conclusion based on the facts.
A more thorough explanation:
Ipse dixit is a Latin phrase that means "he said it himself." It refers to a person's own assertion without relying on any authority or proof. This usually implies an assertion of authority, as in a statement is true based on the speaker's authority and nothing else. In legal context, the term is used to criticize arguments based solely upon authority and not backed by any proof.
"An expert's simple ipse dixit is insufficient to establish a matter; rather, the expert must explain the basis of his statement to link his conclusions to the facts." - Earle v. Ratliff, 998 S.W.2d 882, 890 (Tex. 1999)
This example illustrates how ipse dixit is used in a legal context. It shows that an expert's statement alone is not enough to prove something. The expert must provide evidence to support their statement.