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==Origin==
[[Latin]] praetextus, from praetexere to assign as a pretext, screen, extend in front, from prae- + texere to weave
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1513]
==Definition==
*: a [[purpose]] or [[motive]] alleged or an [[appearance]] assumed in order to cloak the real [[intention]] or [[state]] of affairs
==Description==
A '''pretext''' is an excuse to do something or say something. Pretexts may be based on a half-[[truth]] or developed in the [[context]] of a [[Deception|misleading fabrication]]. Pretexts have been used to conceal the true [[purpose]] or rationale behind [[actions]] and [[words]].
As one example of pretext, in 1880s, the Chinese [[government]] raised [[money]] on the pretext of modernizing the Chinese navy. Instead, these funds were diverted to repair a ship-shaped, two-story pavilion which had been originally constructed for the [[mother]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Qianlong Emperor Qianlong]. This pretext and the Marble Barge are famously linked with the dowager [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Cixi Empress Cixi]. This architectural [[folly]], known today as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Boat Marble Boat] (Shifang), is "moored" on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Kumming Lake Kunming] in what the empress renamed the "Garden for Cultivating Harmony" (Yiheyuan).[1]
Another example of pretext was [[demonstrated]] in the [[speeches]] of the Roman Orator, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cato_the_Elder Cato the Elder] (234‑149 B.C.) For Cato, every [[public]] [[speech]] became a pretext for a comment about [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthage Carthage]. The Roman statesman had come to believe that the [[prosperity]] of ancient Carthage [[represented]] an eventual and [[inevitable]] [[danger]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Rome]. In the Senate, Cato famously ended every [[speech]] with by proclaiming his [[opinion]] that Carthage had to be destroyed ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthago_delenda_est Carthago delenda est]). This oft-repeated phrase was the ultimate conclusion of all [[logical]] [[argument]] in every oration, regardless of the subject of the [[speech]]. This [[pattern]] [[persisted]] until his death in 149, which was the year in which the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Punic_War Third Punic War] began. In other [[words]], any subject became a pretext for reminding his fellow senators of the [[dangers]] Carthage [[represented]].
A pretext is commonly used in [[politics]] to convince a [[population]] that a [[military]] [[action]] is [[necessary]] for the safety and [[security]] of the [[population]], or a [[tax]] increase is required during [[economic]] hard times. The factual [[content]] of the pretext varies drastically. Here are some historic examples of the [[political]] use of the pretext:
*Some have [[argued]] that United States [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt President Franklin D. Roosevelt] used the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor attack on Pearl Harbor] by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941 as a pretext to enter [[World War II]]. American soldiers and supplies had been assisting British and Soviet operations for almost a year by this point, and the United States had thus "chosen a side", but due to the [[political]] climate in the States at the time and some [[campaign]] [[promises]] made by Roosevelt that he would not send American boys to fight in foreign [[wars]]. Roosevelt could not [[declare]] war for fear of [[public]] backlash. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor attack on Pearl Harbor] united the American people's resolve against the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_Powers Axis powers] and created the bellicose atmosphere in which to [[declare]] [[war]].
*Critics have accused United States President [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush George W. Bush] of using the [[September 11th, 2001 attacks]] and faulty [[intelligence]] about the [[existence]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_mass_destruction weapons of mass destruction] as a pretext for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_war war in Iraq].
[[Category: Psychology]]
[[Category: Political Science]]
==Origin==
[[Latin]] praetextus, from praetexere to assign as a pretext, screen, extend in front, from prae- + texere to weave
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1513]
==Definition==
*: a [[purpose]] or [[motive]] alleged or an [[appearance]] assumed in order to cloak the real [[intention]] or [[state]] of affairs
==Description==
A '''pretext''' is an excuse to do something or say something. Pretexts may be based on a half-[[truth]] or developed in the [[context]] of a [[Deception|misleading fabrication]]. Pretexts have been used to conceal the true [[purpose]] or rationale behind [[actions]] and [[words]].
As one example of pretext, in 1880s, the Chinese [[government]] raised [[money]] on the pretext of modernizing the Chinese navy. Instead, these funds were diverted to repair a ship-shaped, two-story pavilion which had been originally constructed for the [[mother]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Qianlong Emperor Qianlong]. This pretext and the Marble Barge are famously linked with the dowager [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Cixi Empress Cixi]. This architectural [[folly]], known today as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Boat Marble Boat] (Shifang), is "moored" on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Kumming Lake Kunming] in what the empress renamed the "Garden for Cultivating Harmony" (Yiheyuan).[1]
Another example of pretext was [[demonstrated]] in the [[speeches]] of the Roman Orator, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cato_the_Elder Cato the Elder] (234‑149 B.C.) For Cato, every [[public]] [[speech]] became a pretext for a comment about [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthage Carthage]. The Roman statesman had come to believe that the [[prosperity]] of ancient Carthage [[represented]] an eventual and [[inevitable]] [[danger]] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Rome]. In the Senate, Cato famously ended every [[speech]] with by proclaiming his [[opinion]] that Carthage had to be destroyed ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthago_delenda_est Carthago delenda est]). This oft-repeated phrase was the ultimate conclusion of all [[logical]] [[argument]] in every oration, regardless of the subject of the [[speech]]. This [[pattern]] [[persisted]] until his death in 149, which was the year in which the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Punic_War Third Punic War] began. In other [[words]], any subject became a pretext for reminding his fellow senators of the [[dangers]] Carthage [[represented]].
A pretext is commonly used in [[politics]] to convince a [[population]] that a [[military]] [[action]] is [[necessary]] for the safety and [[security]] of the [[population]], or a [[tax]] increase is required during [[economic]] hard times. The factual [[content]] of the pretext varies drastically. Here are some historic examples of the [[political]] use of the pretext:
*Some have [[argued]] that United States [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt President Franklin D. Roosevelt] used the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor attack on Pearl Harbor] by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941 as a pretext to enter [[World War II]]. American soldiers and supplies had been assisting British and Soviet operations for almost a year by this point, and the United States had thus "chosen a side", but due to the [[political]] climate in the States at the time and some [[campaign]] [[promises]] made by Roosevelt that he would not send American boys to fight in foreign [[wars]]. Roosevelt could not [[declare]] war for fear of [[public]] backlash. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor attack on Pearl Harbor] united the American people's resolve against the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_Powers Axis powers] and created the bellicose atmosphere in which to [[declare]] [[war]].
*Critics have accused United States President [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush George W. Bush] of using the [[September 11th, 2001 attacks]] and faulty [[intelligence]] about the [[existence]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_mass_destruction weapons of mass destruction] as a pretext for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_war war in Iraq].
[[Category: Psychology]]
[[Category: Political Science]]
