The Perils of Platitudinism: Understanding the Dangers of Shallow Thinking

A platitudinist is someone who expresses trite, obvious, or commonplace ideas as if they were profound or original. The term is often used to criticize people who present clichéd or overly simplistic views as if they were groundbreaking or insightful.

For example, if someone were to say "the world needs more love and understanding," that would be a platitude, as it's a trite and obvious statement that doesn't offer any real depth or insight. A platitudinist might take this statement and present it as if it were a profound revelation, perhaps even using flowery language or grandiose rhetoric to make it sound more impressive than it actually is.

The term "platitudinist" is often used in a derogatory way to suggest that someone is offering shallow or unoriginal ideas, rather than genuine insights or meaningful perspectives.