Fallacy Detective Exam Prep

Statistical. Only

Generalization Fallacy

takes a sample from a class of things then, using the characteristics from that sample, says something about everything in that class.

Generalization is either —— or ——

strong, weak

Generalization relies on:

samples of a class

Any generalization must be either:

adjusted or overthrown by a single contrary case.

Hasty Generalization

generalizing about a class based upon a small or poor sample

2 ways people make hasty generalizations

1. Too small

2. Not representative

Reasoning by analogy is:

When we compare two or more items with each other. We notice that these items are the same in one or more ways and conclude that they will be the same in other ways also.

Analogy is either:

strong or weak

What will we to think of when examining an analogy?

We must also think of areas where the two items are different.

What is the difference between analogies and generalization?

When we generalize, we take a sample, then we draw a conclusion about everything in the same class. When we draw an analogy, we compare items with each other, then we draw a conclusion about one item, based on what we know about the other item.

Strong Analogy:

The similarities between the items being compared are major and the differences only minor.

Weak Analogy:

The differences between the items being compared are major and the similarities minor.

Poetic Analogies

Analogies that are used by authors to make a point. They are not usually precise