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Under-reporting the Facts |
| Description: | ||
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| The argument proposes an arcane explanation for a fact that appears surprising or mysterious only because not all of the relevant accompanying facts have been reported. The additional facts suggest a perfectly ordinary explanation. | ||
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| Examples: | ||
| "There are an unusually large number of ships lost in the Bermuda Triangle compared to other areas of the ocean. There is clearly something mysterious about the place! [Note: In fact several busy shipping lanes intersect in the Bermuda Triangle. There are a large number of ships lost in that area because there are a large number of ships in the area.] | ||
| "This statue of the Virgin Mary is truly possessed by her spirit. Often the statue weeps for the suffering of humanity." [Note: The statue stands in a grotto where seepage of water creates humid conditions. The "weeping" occurs on cool mornings when normal condensation might be expected.] | ||
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| Discussion: | ||
| Like the deductive fallacy, Misrepresenting the Facts, this fallacy can only be detected by checking the relevant facts. Since the exercises for a logic class are generally designed to be done without outside checking, there will be no exercises for this fallacy. However, again, it is important to realize that this is a frequently occurring fallacy, i.e. one that will often be encountered in "real life." Indeed, a great deal of pseudo-science is supported by this fallacy. | ||
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| Classification: A False Report Fallacy (a retroductive fallacy of soundness with a falsehood in the minor premiss). | ||
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| Source: John Stuart Mill describes this fallacy in A System of Logic, 1843, under the heading "fallacies of observation." The name given here is my own invention. | ||
Go to: WELCOME EXPLANATION of PRINCIPLES TABLE of FALLACIES EXERCISES INDEX