Fallacy
Infinite Jest
by David Foster Wallace

Infinite Jest: Fallacy 1 key example

Chapter 46
Explanation and Analysis—American Genius:

In Chapter 46, during their mountainside meeting, Marathe and Steeply discuss their countries' political philosophies. Steeply explains the "American genius," which Marathe believes is a fallacy:

'...The American genius, our good fortune is that someplace along the line back there in American history them realizing that each American seeking to pursue his maximum good results together in maximizing everyone’s good.

'...The United States: a community of sacred individuals which reveres the sacredness of the individual choice. The individual’s right to pursue his own vision of the best ratio of pleasure to pain: utterly sacrosanct. Defended with teeth and bared claws all through our history.

'...You are entitled to your values of maximum pleasure. So long as you don’t fuck with mine. Are you seeing?’