AN ESSAY
As I mentioned last week, I'm re-reading Aristotle's Politics. Surprisingly, I found myself agreeing with many of his points about human beings and their motivations. That surprised me because I always took a prejudiced view against Aristotle. In college, I dismissed him because he was an "absolutist" about truth. But now that many years have passed--and now that I have read so much more--I approach Aristotle with more forgiveness. I do not read him with a smirk anymore. Rather, I read him for what he is: A classical metaphysician. I like some points; I don't like others. It's like reading anyone else.
Yet Aristotle is no average writer. He is a giant among Western philosophers. His views on virtually every subject became dogma for centuries. Men died challenging Aristotlean doctrines in the Catholic church during the Middle Ages. Others risked everything to dispute Aristotle's teachings about ethics and astronomy. As time went on, scientific advances dethroned Aristotle's pre-eminence in some areas. But in others, his influence remains strong--and still relevant. After all, Aristotle wrote about politics, ethics, human beings and beauty. These things cannot be reduced to mathematical fact. Rather, they constantly invite debate, interpretation and reassessment.
Aristotle's political work certainly has continued relevance. Like all the political philosophers who followed him, Aristotle begins by discussing human nature. Aristotle approaches the question with his usual confidence: He makes conclusions as if they were obvious, even if they are just assumptions. He also plays the biologist, constantly comparing humans to their analogues in nature.
I love any discussion about human nature. And I have always disagreed with Aristotle's view here.
Aristotle claims that men are "political animals...by nature." The Politics, Book I, ch. ii, para. 1253a1. He makes this conclusion by examining the key difference between men and beasts: Men have speech. He acknowledges that both animals and men have voice--cows can moo and dogs can bark to voice their feelings--but speech is unique to man.
This might not seem like a profound observation, but Aristotle's understanding of speech is remarkable. The consummate metaphysician, he argues that "speech has a single purpose" and no other. Namely, it enables men to "indicate what is useful and what is harmful," and "what is just or unjust." Id. at para. 1253a7. Finally, he draws the ultimate distinction between men and animals: "[H]umans alone have perception of good and evil, just and unjust." Id.
For Aristotle, then, speech has a justice function. It not only allows men to communicate their feelings, but it exists to help them find what is useful and just for all. This is the natural purpose of speech. It is imbued with a sensitivity for morality (good and evil), practicality (useful and not useful) as well as justice. These are profound concepts. And Aristotle speaks in absolute terms. There is one "good," one "evil," one "justice" and one "useful." In his view, speech enables man to find them all--and to organize States on that basis. Man is not only a speaking animal; his speech allows him to unite with other men to find universal justice in a useful society. What a remarkable assertion.
It is a remarkable assertion because it invites so much scorn. I naturally shy away from absolutes. Aristotle always offered me a tempting target because he reduces complex issues into absolute "sayings." His argument about speech--and human nature--strikes me as impossibly naive. Aristotle's philosophy of "specific purposes" (teleology) always leads to moments like this. After all, how can we say "speech is for justice and unity" when even brief life experience reveals that men often do not use speech for those purposes? Aristotle assumes that speech leads to cooperation and good. But life experience refutes this: Men lie. They don't cooperate. They don't tell the truth. They divide from one another and twist language to advance their narrow interests. And they certainly do not always use language to find justice. In most cases, language leads to injustice.
For his part, Aristotle would say that deceivers do "not use speech according to its purpose." This is a laughable objection, unfortunately: If language's "natural purpose" is to "find justice," then I would argue that people rarely use it "naturally."
Broadly speaking, Aristotle's theory of language reflects a good view of human nature. Aristotle believed that men naturally worked with one another to achieve a "good life." See Politics, Book I, ch. ii at para. 1252b27. He thought that speech gave them a natural tool to discover useful methods for securing a "good life," as well as to distinguish "good from evil," "right from wrong" and "just from unjust." Finally, he thought that men naturally cooperated with each other to achieve a "good life" filled with justice.
These are admirable sentiments. The problem is that Aristotle assumed everything he concluded. Every philosopher must assume certain basic principles in order to develop his theories about life. Aristotle's assumptions sound appealing, but they remain assumptions. For my part, I cannot assume that men are good by nature. And because of that, I cannot assume that men generally use speech for good purposes. Men unite with speech, but they also deceive with it. Men do good with speech; they also do bad. It is no answer to say--as Aristotle does--that they are merely "ignoring speech's natural purpose." There are no overreaching purposes. We simply attach them according to our individual sensitivities.
Aristotle thought that he could find truth by assigning specific purposes to everything open to human experience or imagination. And he assumed that one "truth" exists to be found: That was his worst assumption of all.
Showing posts with label Speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Speech. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
WORDS ARE DEADLY
As I child, I remember feeling terrible when people verbally abused me. “What is this awful feeling?” I thought. “I feel like someone hit me with a sledgehammer; I just want to sit down and cry.” My mother told me never to verbally castigate anyone. She told me not to call people names, or to make jokes about them, or tell them they were stupid, incompetent, ugly or retarded. “You don’t like the way you feel when people say things to you, so don’t inflict the same misery on them.” That was the reasoning. It made sense to me. I hated how I felt when someone mocked me or yelled at me, so I tried my best never to do the same to others.
Yet my mother also employed a pernicious falsehood to conceal the truth about verbal power. “Sticks and stones will break your bones,” she said, “but words can never hurt you.” In my heart, I knew that was not true. Words did hurt me. Although I repeated the rhyme when I faced verbal abuse, I never really believed it. I knew how I felt when someone called me a mean-sounding name or threatened to beat me. It hurt like hell, no matter what my mother said. Now, I see even more that words hurt. Often, words can inflict far worse pain than sticks or stones.
Human speech is a two-edged sword. On the positive side, it enables us to communicate our thoughts, feelings and intentions for mutually beneficial activity. It allows us to pass information from our minds to others, increasing knowledge. It allows us to coordinate effectively with one another, allowing us to organize societies and common values. It empowers us to express our personalities and reveal our memories. Without speech, no one would know what other people have seen, heard, thought, felt, experienced, touched or believed. We would be left to infer things based on external signs; and that is rarely enough to get the full picture about events outside our sight. In short, speech—and writing, of course—are the foundations of civilization. In his Politics, Aristotle wrote that speech was inherently good, because it allowed human beings to work harmoniously together for common enrichment. In many cases, he was right.
But there are many cases in which Aristotle was wrong about speech. Quite simply, it is not always good. Thomas Hobbes famously illustrated that speech can harm just as much as it can help. In Leviathan (1651), Hobbes noted that human beings use speech to “deceive themselves” and “deceive others.” Leviathan, Part I, Of Man; Chap. IV (Of Speech). Hobbes even compared human verbal malice to an intrinsic natural trait: “[F]or seeing nature hath armed living creatures, some with teeth, some with horns, and some with hands to grieve an enemy, it is but an abuse of Speech, to grieve him with the tongue.” Id.
How true. Words are man’s natural weapons. While words may lead to harmony and cooperation, they can also yield fraud, deceit, conspiracy, dishonesty, misrepresentation, defamation, browbeating and malicious cruelty. People use words to destroy others’ feelings and reputations. They use words to intimidate, threaten, steal and tyrannize. In a more direct way, words enable men to destroy one another, even without personal ill will. Combined with organization, government, technology and interlocking personal loyalties, words can cause wars and massacres. With the words: “Open Fire on coordinates 2 0 9 West by 2 0 7 North,” an artillery commander can instruct a battery to lay waste an entire town, killing hundreds. With the words: “Operation Barnstorm is in effect; the order is confirmed,” a President can set events in motion leading to nuclear holocaust.
I would take sticks and stones over words in these circumstances.
Words are deadly. But in an abstract sense, it is amazing how powerful they have become. After all, spoken words are nothing but air transferred from the lungs over the palate and tongue, yielding a particular sound that triggers a mental image when a person hears them. Written words are nothing but visible symbols that trigger a similar image when a person sees them. Intrinsically, they are nothing. Words signify nothing to a duck; they are just noise. Only through human agreement, recognition and understanding have they assumed their true power. When mothers say: “Words can never hurt you,” they think too abstractly. Words may be little more than manipulated air, but they are mental triggers. What begins as mere air transforms into tangible action; and that can easily hurt you. For example, a judge may utter these sounds: “I sentence you to death by gas chamber.” In the abstract, those words do not hurt the prisoner; they are mere sounds. But they trigger a series of physical actions by others that lead to his death, even many years later.
I have learned never to underestimate speech. While I never forget that words are simply symbols, I recognize how much power they have assumed through mutual agreement. Words bring out the best and the worst in human beings. They can build civilizations as easily as they can destroy them. They can heal human beings as easily as they can kill them. They can bring comfort as much as they can inflict misery. They can create beauty as much as they can create ugliness. They can evoke any emotion, from joy to anger, from despair to terror, and from relief to suspense.
Words allow human beings to broadcast themselves—and their wills—onto the external world. They are the intermediaries. In themselves, they are nothing. But in particular contexts—and in particular settings—they are everything.
Yet my mother also employed a pernicious falsehood to conceal the truth about verbal power. “Sticks and stones will break your bones,” she said, “but words can never hurt you.” In my heart, I knew that was not true. Words did hurt me. Although I repeated the rhyme when I faced verbal abuse, I never really believed it. I knew how I felt when someone called me a mean-sounding name or threatened to beat me. It hurt like hell, no matter what my mother said. Now, I see even more that words hurt. Often, words can inflict far worse pain than sticks or stones.
Human speech is a two-edged sword. On the positive side, it enables us to communicate our thoughts, feelings and intentions for mutually beneficial activity. It allows us to pass information from our minds to others, increasing knowledge. It allows us to coordinate effectively with one another, allowing us to organize societies and common values. It empowers us to express our personalities and reveal our memories. Without speech, no one would know what other people have seen, heard, thought, felt, experienced, touched or believed. We would be left to infer things based on external signs; and that is rarely enough to get the full picture about events outside our sight. In short, speech—and writing, of course—are the foundations of civilization. In his Politics, Aristotle wrote that speech was inherently good, because it allowed human beings to work harmoniously together for common enrichment. In many cases, he was right.
But there are many cases in which Aristotle was wrong about speech. Quite simply, it is not always good. Thomas Hobbes famously illustrated that speech can harm just as much as it can help. In Leviathan (1651), Hobbes noted that human beings use speech to “deceive themselves” and “deceive others.” Leviathan, Part I, Of Man; Chap. IV (Of Speech). Hobbes even compared human verbal malice to an intrinsic natural trait: “[F]or seeing nature hath armed living creatures, some with teeth, some with horns, and some with hands to grieve an enemy, it is but an abuse of Speech, to grieve him with the tongue.” Id.
How true. Words are man’s natural weapons. While words may lead to harmony and cooperation, they can also yield fraud, deceit, conspiracy, dishonesty, misrepresentation, defamation, browbeating and malicious cruelty. People use words to destroy others’ feelings and reputations. They use words to intimidate, threaten, steal and tyrannize. In a more direct way, words enable men to destroy one another, even without personal ill will. Combined with organization, government, technology and interlocking personal loyalties, words can cause wars and massacres. With the words: “Open Fire on coordinates 2 0 9 West by 2 0 7 North,” an artillery commander can instruct a battery to lay waste an entire town, killing hundreds. With the words: “Operation Barnstorm is in effect; the order is confirmed,” a President can set events in motion leading to nuclear holocaust.
I would take sticks and stones over words in these circumstances.
Words are deadly. But in an abstract sense, it is amazing how powerful they have become. After all, spoken words are nothing but air transferred from the lungs over the palate and tongue, yielding a particular sound that triggers a mental image when a person hears them. Written words are nothing but visible symbols that trigger a similar image when a person sees them. Intrinsically, they are nothing. Words signify nothing to a duck; they are just noise. Only through human agreement, recognition and understanding have they assumed their true power. When mothers say: “Words can never hurt you,” they think too abstractly. Words may be little more than manipulated air, but they are mental triggers. What begins as mere air transforms into tangible action; and that can easily hurt you. For example, a judge may utter these sounds: “I sentence you to death by gas chamber.” In the abstract, those words do not hurt the prisoner; they are mere sounds. But they trigger a series of physical actions by others that lead to his death, even many years later.
I have learned never to underestimate speech. While I never forget that words are simply symbols, I recognize how much power they have assumed through mutual agreement. Words bring out the best and the worst in human beings. They can build civilizations as easily as they can destroy them. They can heal human beings as easily as they can kill them. They can bring comfort as much as they can inflict misery. They can create beauty as much as they can create ugliness. They can evoke any emotion, from joy to anger, from despair to terror, and from relief to suspense.
Words allow human beings to broadcast themselves—and their wills—onto the external world. They are the intermediaries. In themselves, they are nothing. But in particular contexts—and in particular settings—they are everything.
Friday, September 19, 2008
A WORD FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
At Reason, Commerce, Justice & Free Beer, we let everyone’s voice be heard. We firmly believe that our Nation benefits when every perspective vigorously competes for a share in the marketplace of ideas. The People determine which ideas will prevail; we, the press, merely provide a forum for those ideas. And ideas begin with speech. That is is why we give ear to all.
Commercial messages are just as valuable as messages about politics, art, science or leisure. Although critics may complain that commercial speech may be crass and pedestrian compared to truly expressive speech, we believe that a speaker’s economic interests should not mute his message. Sometimes, a message that encourages a listener to buy a product can inform him as well. After all, why would a speaker lie in crafting his commercial message? Listeners will not spend their hard-earned money if they do not receive truthful information about a speaker’s product.
Today, we are happy to present a commercial message from the Economic Freedom Circle, a group dedicated to helping Americans everywhere cope with the pressures of productive life. We applaud the Economic Freedom Circle not only for its renowned products and services, but also its commitment to individual well-being. Through its commercial speech, the Economic Freedom Circle has changed thousands of lives for the better. Unlike so many other advertisements that bombard us every day, we believe that the Economic Freedom Circle’s commercial messages are both tasteful and informative. We hope that you enjoy the Circle’s message.
DO YOU HAVE A MONEY PROBLEM?
Are you one of the millions of Americans who think about money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? On holidays? Do you think about money more than your spouse? More than your parents? Your children? Would you rather have $1,000,000 in cash rather than the promise of good health? Do you dream about money, cashier’s checks and bank bonds? Do you know your bank balance better than your nieces’ names? Do you jump up and down when you think you might receive a tax refund? Do you love the sight of a paycheck? Do you hate paying for things you didn’t plan for? If this sounds like you, you are not alone. You may be suffering from Money Mania, and we can help®.
You earn your money. It’s yours. Isn’t it about time to control your money and how it makes you feel? Wouldn’t you love to live your life without thinking about money every single day? Every hour? Wouldn’t you love to show up at your job without thinking: “The only reason I am here is because of the money?” Don’t despair! We can help®. Here at the Economic Freedom Circle, our trained financial psychology professionals can help you mentally master money. With 100% guaranteed1 I-Can-Do-It®2 software, you will learn how to think about other things each day. With 100% guaranteed3 Track-O-Meter®4 software, you will record your money-thought progress. You might start your program thinking about money 6500 times a day. At the end of Week 1, you could reduce that number to 6300.5 And with some hard work—and advice from our seasoned staff—you might enjoy a night’s sleep with only 500 money-related dreams6.
Just listen to some of our satisfied customers:
JILL7 (Oregon) : For years, I thought about my bank account every single hour. It was all I did. I saw the balance floating in front of my eyes, in my children’s faces, in the bathroom mirror, in my windshield, on the television set, on my hand. Then I called the Economic Freedom Circle. Their staff was so nice and friendly. With some hard work, I started thinking about money only once an hour. I feel so much better now! Thanks, Economic Freedom Circle!
FRED8 (New York) : I never really cared about anything in life except making lots of money. I made lots of money for 40 years, then I said to myself: “Maybe there are other things to think about?” So I called the Economic Freedom Circle. They really helped me understand that I could think about things other than money. It was amazing. I thought about taking a vacation once every 12 years and saying hello to my wife and son. I still think about money almost all the time, but now I allow myself three non-money-related thoughts per day. I am so happy! Thanks, Economic Freedom Circle!
Call us TODAY for a free consultation at 1-888-674-8000. It’s a toll-free call, so what are you waiting for? That’s 1-888-674-8000. There is absolutely no obligation9. There is no credit check10. Your call is completely confidential and no one will sell or use your contact information for marketing purposes11. Again, that’s 1-888-674-8000. Isn’t it time you normalized your relationship with money? Don’t let money control you; take control of money. Remember, that’s 1-888-674-8000. Call NOW. Don’t wait. If you call in the next 5 minutes, we will send you a FREE $100 Bill keychain, retail value $29.99, ABSOLUTELY FREE12 with FREE SHIPPING13. That’s right. You heard it: ABSOLUTELY FREE14 with FREE SHIPPING15. Call 1-888-674-8000 NOW. You will be glad you did. And don’t forget: We can help®16. Do yourself a favor. Call TODAY. Interest-free financing is available17.
1 Subject to Economic Freedom Circle’s (EFC) sole right of revocation. EFC guarantees only that software will operate on eligible computer systems. EFC does not warranty effectiveness or fitness for a particular purpose. EFC makes no warranties of particular results in individual cases. EFC expressly disclaims any IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. In case of dispute, Buyer waives right to jury trial. Buyer submits to Arbitration in State and Forum of EFC’s choosing. EFC reserves sole right to choose arbitrator. Arbitrator’s decisions are final, binding and unappealable. Software prices begin at $499.99. EFC reserves the right to alter software prices without warning or notice. See retailer for details. Further restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply.
2 All rights reserved.
3 Subject to Economic Freedom Circle’s (EFC) sole right of revocation. EFC guarantees only that software will operate on eligible computer systems. EFC does not warranty effectiveness or fitness for a particular purpose. EFC makes no warranties of particular results in individual cases. EFC expressly disclaims any IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. In case of dispute, Buyer waives right to jury trial. Buyer submits to Arbitration in State and Forum of EFC’s choosing. EFC reserves sole right to choose arbitrator. Arbitrator’s decisions are final, binding and unappealable. Software prices begin at $499.99. EFC reserves the right to alter software prices without warning or notice. See retailer for details. Further restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply.
4 All rights reserved.
5 Results not typical. This is not a warranty, express or implied. Buyer assumes all risks and waives all right to sue.
6 Results not typical. This is not a warranty, express or implied. Buyer assumes all risks and waives all right to sue.
7 This testimonial was given by a paid actor. This is not a warranty. Results not typical.
8 This testimonial was given by a paid actor. This is not a warranty. Results not typical.
9 Applies only to Free Consultation. Orders for products are governed by EFC’s Standard Form Contract (SFC). SFC obligations are binding and enforceable under the laws of the State of Alaska.
10 Applies only to Free Consultation. Buyers who wish to purchase EFC products on credit are subject to credit checks through the three major credit bureaus, cost to be borne by Buyer. Buyer assumes all risks associated with said credit checks, including receipt of untrue, false or misleading financial information. Buyer is responsible for managing his own credit history and to provide a credit history free of inaccuracies and misleading information. Buyers who obtain credit from EFC through false or misleading credit statements are subject to prosecution under the laws of the State of Alaska.
11 Confidentiality exists only for 24 hours following conclusion of initial consultation (“Confidentiality Period”). Following Confidentiality Period, EFC reserves the right to sell, let, lease, convey, loan, assign or delegate any and all personal or financial information provided by Buyer to Third-Parties.
12 While supplies last. Subject to EFC’s sole right of revocation. EFC disclaims any liability for late, lost or misdelivered gifts. EFC may terminate this offer at any time, without liability, notice or warning. EFC expressly disclaims any liability for consequential damages.
13 By Fourth Class U.S. Mail, when applicable. Subject to EFC’s sole right of revocation. EFC disclaims any liability for late, lost or misdelivered gifts. EFC may terminate this offer at any time, without liability, notice or warning. EFC expressly disclaims any liability for consequential damages.
14 While supplies last. Subject to EFC’s sole right of revocation. EFC disclaims any liability for late, lost or misdelivered gifts. EFC may terminate this offer at any time, without liability, notice or warning. EFC expressly disclaims any liability for consequential damages.
15 By Fourth Class U.S. Mail, when applicable. Subject to EFC’s sole right of revocation. EFC disclaims any liability for late, lost or misdelivered gifts. EFC may terminate this offer at any time, without liability, notice or warning. EFC expressly disclaims any liability for consequential damages
16 All rights reserved.
17 Not all Buyers will qualify. No-interest financing through Federal First Business, N.A., is available only to Buyers with credit scores deemed satisfactory to EFC. Higher interest financing through Federal First Business, N.A., is available subject to varying credit scores deemed satisfactory to EFC. Not all Buyers will qualify for financing of any kind. EFC makes no warranties that financing will be available to any Buyer and disclaims any liability associated with any reliance placed on any expectation of an extension of credit. Non-credit purchases must be made in full at point of sale. No exceptions.
Commercial messages are just as valuable as messages about politics, art, science or leisure. Although critics may complain that commercial speech may be crass and pedestrian compared to truly expressive speech, we believe that a speaker’s economic interests should not mute his message. Sometimes, a message that encourages a listener to buy a product can inform him as well. After all, why would a speaker lie in crafting his commercial message? Listeners will not spend their hard-earned money if they do not receive truthful information about a speaker’s product.
Today, we are happy to present a commercial message from the Economic Freedom Circle, a group dedicated to helping Americans everywhere cope with the pressures of productive life. We applaud the Economic Freedom Circle not only for its renowned products and services, but also its commitment to individual well-being. Through its commercial speech, the Economic Freedom Circle has changed thousands of lives for the better. Unlike so many other advertisements that bombard us every day, we believe that the Economic Freedom Circle’s commercial messages are both tasteful and informative. We hope that you enjoy the Circle’s message.
DO YOU HAVE A MONEY PROBLEM?
Are you one of the millions of Americans who think about money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? On holidays? Do you think about money more than your spouse? More than your parents? Your children? Would you rather have $1,000,000 in cash rather than the promise of good health? Do you dream about money, cashier’s checks and bank bonds? Do you know your bank balance better than your nieces’ names? Do you jump up and down when you think you might receive a tax refund? Do you love the sight of a paycheck? Do you hate paying for things you didn’t plan for? If this sounds like you, you are not alone. You may be suffering from Money Mania, and we can help®.
You earn your money. It’s yours. Isn’t it about time to control your money and how it makes you feel? Wouldn’t you love to live your life without thinking about money every single day? Every hour? Wouldn’t you love to show up at your job without thinking: “The only reason I am here is because of the money?” Don’t despair! We can help®. Here at the Economic Freedom Circle, our trained financial psychology professionals can help you mentally master money. With 100% guaranteed1 I-Can-Do-It®2 software, you will learn how to think about other things each day. With 100% guaranteed3 Track-O-Meter®4 software, you will record your money-thought progress. You might start your program thinking about money 6500 times a day. At the end of Week 1, you could reduce that number to 6300.5 And with some hard work—and advice from our seasoned staff—you might enjoy a night’s sleep with only 500 money-related dreams6.
Just listen to some of our satisfied customers:
JILL7 (Oregon) : For years, I thought about my bank account every single hour. It was all I did. I saw the balance floating in front of my eyes, in my children’s faces, in the bathroom mirror, in my windshield, on the television set, on my hand. Then I called the Economic Freedom Circle. Their staff was so nice and friendly. With some hard work, I started thinking about money only once an hour. I feel so much better now! Thanks, Economic Freedom Circle!
FRED8 (New York) : I never really cared about anything in life except making lots of money. I made lots of money for 40 years, then I said to myself: “Maybe there are other things to think about?” So I called the Economic Freedom Circle. They really helped me understand that I could think about things other than money. It was amazing. I thought about taking a vacation once every 12 years and saying hello to my wife and son. I still think about money almost all the time, but now I allow myself three non-money-related thoughts per day. I am so happy! Thanks, Economic Freedom Circle!
Call us TODAY for a free consultation at 1-888-674-8000. It’s a toll-free call, so what are you waiting for? That’s 1-888-674-8000. There is absolutely no obligation9. There is no credit check10. Your call is completely confidential and no one will sell or use your contact information for marketing purposes11. Again, that’s 1-888-674-8000. Isn’t it time you normalized your relationship with money? Don’t let money control you; take control of money. Remember, that’s 1-888-674-8000. Call NOW. Don’t wait. If you call in the next 5 minutes, we will send you a FREE $100 Bill keychain, retail value $29.99, ABSOLUTELY FREE12 with FREE SHIPPING13. That’s right. You heard it: ABSOLUTELY FREE14 with FREE SHIPPING15. Call 1-888-674-8000 NOW. You will be glad you did. And don’t forget: We can help®16. Do yourself a favor. Call TODAY. Interest-free financing is available17.
1 Subject to Economic Freedom Circle’s (EFC) sole right of revocation. EFC guarantees only that software will operate on eligible computer systems. EFC does not warranty effectiveness or fitness for a particular purpose. EFC makes no warranties of particular results in individual cases. EFC expressly disclaims any IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. In case of dispute, Buyer waives right to jury trial. Buyer submits to Arbitration in State and Forum of EFC’s choosing. EFC reserves sole right to choose arbitrator. Arbitrator’s decisions are final, binding and unappealable. Software prices begin at $499.99. EFC reserves the right to alter software prices without warning or notice. See retailer for details. Further restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply.
2 All rights reserved.
3 Subject to Economic Freedom Circle’s (EFC) sole right of revocation. EFC guarantees only that software will operate on eligible computer systems. EFC does not warranty effectiveness or fitness for a particular purpose. EFC makes no warranties of particular results in individual cases. EFC expressly disclaims any IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. In case of dispute, Buyer waives right to jury trial. Buyer submits to Arbitration in State and Forum of EFC’s choosing. EFC reserves sole right to choose arbitrator. Arbitrator’s decisions are final, binding and unappealable. Software prices begin at $499.99. EFC reserves the right to alter software prices without warning or notice. See retailer for details. Further restrictions, limitations and qualifications apply.
4 All rights reserved.
5 Results not typical. This is not a warranty, express or implied. Buyer assumes all risks and waives all right to sue.
6 Results not typical. This is not a warranty, express or implied. Buyer assumes all risks and waives all right to sue.
7 This testimonial was given by a paid actor. This is not a warranty. Results not typical.
8 This testimonial was given by a paid actor. This is not a warranty. Results not typical.
9 Applies only to Free Consultation. Orders for products are governed by EFC’s Standard Form Contract (SFC). SFC obligations are binding and enforceable under the laws of the State of Alaska.
10 Applies only to Free Consultation. Buyers who wish to purchase EFC products on credit are subject to credit checks through the three major credit bureaus, cost to be borne by Buyer. Buyer assumes all risks associated with said credit checks, including receipt of untrue, false or misleading financial information. Buyer is responsible for managing his own credit history and to provide a credit history free of inaccuracies and misleading information. Buyers who obtain credit from EFC through false or misleading credit statements are subject to prosecution under the laws of the State of Alaska.
11 Confidentiality exists only for 24 hours following conclusion of initial consultation (“Confidentiality Period”). Following Confidentiality Period, EFC reserves the right to sell, let, lease, convey, loan, assign or delegate any and all personal or financial information provided by Buyer to Third-Parties.
12 While supplies last. Subject to EFC’s sole right of revocation. EFC disclaims any liability for late, lost or misdelivered gifts. EFC may terminate this offer at any time, without liability, notice or warning. EFC expressly disclaims any liability for consequential damages.
13 By Fourth Class U.S. Mail, when applicable. Subject to EFC’s sole right of revocation. EFC disclaims any liability for late, lost or misdelivered gifts. EFC may terminate this offer at any time, without liability, notice or warning. EFC expressly disclaims any liability for consequential damages.
14 While supplies last. Subject to EFC’s sole right of revocation. EFC disclaims any liability for late, lost or misdelivered gifts. EFC may terminate this offer at any time, without liability, notice or warning. EFC expressly disclaims any liability for consequential damages.
15 By Fourth Class U.S. Mail, when applicable. Subject to EFC’s sole right of revocation. EFC disclaims any liability for late, lost or misdelivered gifts. EFC may terminate this offer at any time, without liability, notice or warning. EFC expressly disclaims any liability for consequential damages
16 All rights reserved.
17 Not all Buyers will qualify. No-interest financing through Federal First Business, N.A., is available only to Buyers with credit scores deemed satisfactory to EFC. Higher interest financing through Federal First Business, N.A., is available subject to varying credit scores deemed satisfactory to EFC. Not all Buyers will qualify for financing of any kind. EFC makes no warranties that financing will be available to any Buyer and disclaims any liability associated with any reliance placed on any expectation of an extension of credit. Non-credit purchases must be made in full at point of sale. No exceptions.
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