Fallacy of composition

From Religions Wiki
Revision as of 13:38, 28 June 2010 by Arensb (talk | contribs) (Rewritten a bit, expanded, wikified.)

The Fallacy of composition is the fallacy of concluding that something that is true of the parts is also true of the whole, or that something that is true of the whole is also true of the parts.

Examples

  • Every atom in my body is invisible to the naked eye. Therefore, I am invisible to the naked eye.
  • Germany committed war crimes. Therefore, every German committed war crimes.

Counter-arguments

A few obviously fallacious arguments should suffice to show that composition is not a valid inference.

  • Everything in the universe is moved. Therefore, the universe is moved.
  • Everything in the universe is caused. Therefore, the universe is caused.