Logical Errors

Logical Fallacies

Faulty Arguments

Cause and Effect

Oversimplification

The fallacy of oversimplification involves too narrow a definition of the premises, usually by claiming that one single factor is the complete cause of some state of affairs. A typical oversimplified proposition might be "We should elect new judges. We have a high crime rate because our judges are too lenient in sentencing convicted criminals." Although we might find the cause cited in the argument to play a part in the situation, it would be very unlikely that one single factor could completely determine such an extremely complex state of affairs. The antidote to the simplification fallacy is the principle of multiple causes, or as some scientific researchers say, "Everything affects everything else in some way or another." The Sufi scholar Idries Shah likes to tell the teaching story about the Mulla Nasrudin, a kind of folk-wizard who was asked by a scholar, "What is fate?" Nasrudin replied, "Fate is an endless succession of intertwined events, each influencing the other." The scholar replied curtly, "That is hardly an answer. I believe in cause and effect." "Very well," said the Mulla, "look at that." He pointed to a procession passing in the street. "That man is being taken to be hanged. Is that because someone gave him a silver piece and enabled him to buy the knife with which he committed the murder, or because someone saw him do it, or because nobody stopped him?"

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Map of Logical Errors