EXAGERATION and EUPHEMISM

1. Maximization

Exaggeration as amplification

Aristotle defines exaggeration as the use of “indignant language […] painting a highly colored picture of the situation” (Rhet, II, 24, 1401b1-10, RR, p. 383), and notes its spectacular and curious effect in legal situations.

If the defendant does so, he produces an impression of his innocence; and if the prosecutor goes into a passion, he produces an impression of the defendant’s guilt. (ibid).

Exaggeration to absurdity

Exaggerating to the point of absurdity is a refutation technique known as adynaton:

The arguer uses both hyperbole and apodioxis to establish a position by the exaggerating the absurdity of the opposing position” (Molinié 1992, Adynaton; for apodioxis, see dismissal)

This is a variant of refutation from the absurd, taken to the ridiculous.

To avoid accidents, leave your car at home!
To prevent recidivism, let’s execute all offenders!

The mechanisms of argumentation are the same as those of the slippery slope argument, an invitation: “Don’t stop now, the way is so good” see slippery slope; laughter.

You want to be vegetarian? No problem, eat salad and graze on the lawn.

The following passage rejects and ridicules the idea that the criminally insane should be judged like everyone else by showing that the concept of criminal behavior is meaningless without considering of intent.

Let us judge all criminal acts. Regardless of the perpetrators’ the level of consciousness . Why not judge a dog too? The news offers a tragic opportunity to further advance justice. […] And why does the hurricane that recently devastated the West Indies, causing many casualties, and immense property damage, escape the wrath of justice?
M. Horeau, [Obvious Delirium]. Le Canard Enchaîné, 2007 [1]

2. Minimization, or Euphemism

Minimization strategies are used to deflect an accusation, when bad behavior is acknowledged as such, but its material significance is reduced. For example, if I’m accused of stealing a bicycle,  I might defend myself by saying: “Oh yeah, but it’s just an old broken worthless bicycle.”
The feeling associated with minimization is indifference. The accuser is portrayed as overly excited and should calm down, see calm.

Everything can be euphemized, even torture:

On July 30, 1984, Christian von Wernich, a chaplain [capellán] for the Buenos Aires police, now a priest in Bragado, in a statement to the magazine Siete Días:
If you tell me that Camps has tortured some poor guy that no one knows, well, okay. But how could he have tortured Jacobo Timerman, a journalist under constant and decisive worldwide pressure, if only for that! That alone would be sufficient to prove his innocence.
Carlos Santibáñez & Mónica Acosta, [The Two Churches], [1996].[2]

[1] L. M. Horeau, “Flagrants délires”. Le Canard Enchaîné, (a satirical newspaper) August 29, 2007. P. 1
[2] Carlos Santibáñez & Mónica Acosta, Las dos Iglesias. Report Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Assassination of Bishop Angelelli. www.desaparecidos.org/nuncamas/web/investig/dosigles/02.htm (Accessed August 11, 2017).