GENERALIZATION

Generalization

A generalization occurs when a writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain rather than probable; in other words, that a claim applies to all instances instead of some.

Likewise, it is a fallacy in which a conclusion is not logically justified by sifficient or unbiased evidence; it always proceds from the particular to the general. Consider one example of hasty generalizations based on inaquate data:

Three congressional representatives have had affairs. Therefore, members of Congress are adulters.

In this case the conclusion is based on limited evidence; it is hasty and fallacious.

It is not uncommon for arguer to draw a conclusion or geeralization based on only a few instances of a phenomenon. In fact, a genralization is often drawn from a single piece of supporting data, an act that might be described as committing the fallacy of the lonely fact.

Some phrases that we can use when we want to say that something is true most of the time but not at all.

1. Ninety percent of the time...

2. Nine times out of ten...

3. More often than not...

4. Usually...

5. As a rule (of thumb)...

A generalization may be strong or weak. Generalizations are useful because with them you don´t need to study every single thing in a class before you make a conclusion. If we were tying to to figure out whether all politicians were corrupt, it woulb be very tedious to examine every politician who ever existed on the planet (and, recently, in outer space) to check if they ever took a bribe.

So, we generalize. However, you never Really know whether your generalization is completely correct untl you examine every single politician; there is always the chance that you willlater find one who isn´t corrupt.

Therefore, we must say that a generalization can´t be true or false; it can be only stronge or weak. A strong generalization is one which is more likely to be correct.

Any generalization must be overthrown, or at least must be adjusted, by a single contrary case. If i studied 3,000.000 politicians all over the world and I found that they were all corrupt, I mightgeneralize that all politicians are corrupt. But, if I found a single politician who wasn´t corrupt (may be he was living off in the jungle somewhere and didn´t show up for the census), I would have to throw out my generalization-or at least modify "All politicians-except one I know who lives in the jungle- are corrupt".

More information

Practice.

Write son generalizations, then explain why is a hasty(weak) generalization, or why not?

Example.

All plumbers are brilliant. I know a plumber who can calculate Pi to the 289.954th digit.

Is a hasty generalization because is taking about all the plumbers, and the person knows just a one plumber.

1.My father smoked four packs of cigarettes a day since age fourteen and lived until age sixty-nine. Therefore, smoking really can’t be that bad for you.

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2.Four out of five dentists recommend Happy Glossy Smiley toothpaste brand. Therefore, it must be great.

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3. Three congressional representatives have had affairs. Therefore, members of Congree are adulterers.

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4.An environmental group illegally blocked loggers and workers at a nuclear plant. Therefore, environmentalists are radicals who take the law into their own hands.

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5.Brazilians love soccer. Hector is from Brazil, so he probably loves soccer too.

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