Generalize Admissions of Specific Cases

Description

If you make an induction, and your opponent grants you the particular cases by which it is to be supported, you must refrain from asking him if he also admits the general truth which issues from the particulars, but introduce it afterwards as a settled and admitted fact; for, in the meanwhile, he will himself come to believe that he has admitted it, and the same impression will be received by the audience, because they will remember the many questions as to the particulars, and suppose that they must, of course, have attained their end.

Discussion

Inductive reasoning is effectively generalization, starting with a specific case and deriving a rule that is more widely applicable. This can be a fragile assumption that will not stand up to rigorous challenge, so if the other person does not challenge, do not put your neck on the block!

Because the other person has accepted your argument and when this contains unspoken assumptions, when the other person accepts you arguments without challenge they must also accept the underlying assumptions.

This process can be helped by adding tag questions that subtly nudge the other person into agreeing.

'Generalize Admissions of Specific Cases' is the eleventh of Schopenhauer's stratagems.

Quick links

Generalize Admissions of Specific Cases

Description

Example

Discussion

See also

Site Menu

You can buy books here

Quick links

Disciplines

Techniques

Principles

Explanations

Theories

And

Site Menu

Quick links

Disciplines

Techniques

Principles

Explanations

Theories

And