Comparison/Generalization Fallacy: Logical Fallacy Family

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Comparison/Generalization Fallacy

The argument draws the wrong lesson from a comparison, stereotype, exception, or generalization.

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18 fallacies in this family.

Quick family question

What comparison, stereotype, or thin slice of experience is being overextended?

Family vs. category

A family is the broad umbrella that gives a fallacy its main home. Categories are the narrower diagnostic tags, so the same fallacy can appear in multiple categories while still belonging to one family.

Bottom-up condemnation

Occurs when a negative generalization about a group is used as if it settled the character or behavior of a specific member of that group.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

Bottom-up condemnation companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a negative generalization about a group is used as if it settled the character or behavior of a specific member of that group.

Bottom-up justification

Occurs when a positive generalization about a group is used as if it established the virtue or competence of a specific member of that group.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

Bottom-up justification companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a positive generalization about a group is used as if it established the virtue or competence of a specific member of that group.

Composition fallacy

Occurs when something true of the parts is assumed to be true of the whole they compose.

Conceptual

Intermediate Intro college

Composition fallacy companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when something true of the parts is assumed to be true of the whole they compose.

Division fallacy

Occurs when something true of a whole is assumed to be true of each part or member of that whole.

Conceptual

Intermediate Intro college

Division fallacy companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when something true of a whole is assumed to be true of each part or member of that whole.

False analogy

Occurs when one thing is treated as sufficiently like another even though the comparison breaks down at the point the argument depends on.

Conceptual

Intermediate Intro college

False analogy companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when one thing is treated as sufficiently like another even though the comparison breaks down at the point the argument depends on.

False balance

Occurs when a dispute is presented as if the competing sides were roughly equal in credibility or evidential support even though the evidence is not remotely balanced.

PerspectivalEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

False balance companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a dispute is presented as if the competing sides were roughly equal in credibility or evidential support even though the evidence is not remotely balanced.

False compromise

Occurs when the midpoint between two positions is treated as correct simply because it lies between them.

Conceptual

Intermediate Intro college

False compromise companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when the midpoint between two positions is treated as correct simply because it lies between them.

False equivalence

Occurs when two things are treated as equivalent in seriousness, meaning, or explanatory weight despite relevant differences that make the comparison misleading.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

False equivalence companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when two things are treated as equivalent in seriousness, meaning, or explanatory weight despite relevant differences that make the comparison misleading.

Faulty generalization

Occurs when an inductive conclusion reaches further than the available evidence can reasonably support, or ignores information that should limit the generalization.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

Faulty generalization companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when an inductive conclusion reaches further than the available evidence can reasonably support, or ignores information that should limit the generalization.

Incomplete comparison

Occurs when one option is called better, worse, cheaper, safer, or more effective without specifying the relevant comparison class or the other factors that matter.

Conceptual

Intermediate Intro college

Incomplete comparison companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when one option is called better, worse, cheaper, safer, or more effective without specifying the relevant comparison class or the other factors that matter.

Inconsistent comparison

Occurs when different comparison targets are used across different dimensions to create the illusion of one all-around winner.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

Inconsistent comparison companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when different comparison targets are used across different dimensions to create the illusion of one all-around winner.

Nirvana fallacy

Occurs when a realistic option is rejected because it does not solve a problem perfectly or because an imagined ideal is used as the standard of comparison.

Conceptual

Intermediate Intro college

Nirvana fallacy companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a realistic option is rejected because it does not solve a problem perfectly or because an imagined ideal is used as the standard of comparison.

Perfect solution fallacy

Occurs when a useful solution is dismissed because it does not fully solve the problem or because some flaws would remain afterward.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

Perfect solution fallacy companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a useful solution is dismissed because it does not fully solve the problem or because some flaws would remain afterward.

Perfect standard

Occurs when a messy range of better and worse cases is collapsed into a rigid perfect-or-failed binary.

Conceptual

Intermediate Intro college

Perfect standard companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a messy range of better and worse cases is collapsed into a rigid perfect-or-failed binary.

Perverted analogy

Occurs when an analogy is deliberately stretched past its intended point so it can be mocked or refuted.

TacticalConceptual

Intermediate Intro college

Perverted analogy companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when an analogy is deliberately stretched past its intended point so it can be mocked or refuted.

Top-down condemnation

Occurs when a negative trait found in one member of a group is used to condemn the group as a whole.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

Top-down condemnation companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a negative trait found in one member of a group is used to condemn the group as a whole.

Top-down faulty generalization

Occurs when a reasonable generalization is attacked by demanding that it hold without relevant scope conditions or exceptions.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

Top-down faulty generalization companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a reasonable generalization is attacked by demanding that it hold without relevant scope conditions or exceptions.

Top-down justification

Occurs when a positive trait found in one member of a group is used to justify a positive conclusion about the group as a whole.

ConceptualEvidential

Intermediate Intro college

Top-down justification companion poster in a retro mid-century editorial cartoon style, illustrating occurs when a positive trait found in one member of a group is used to justify a positive conclusion about the group as a whole.