1、Hasty generalization Definition: Making assumptions about a whole group or range of cases based on a sample that is inadequate (usually because it is atypical or too small). Stereotypes about people (“librarians are shy and smart,” “wealthy people are snobs,” etc.) are a common example of the princi
2、ple underlying hasty generalization. Example: “My roommate said her philosophy class was hard, and the one Im in is hard, too. All philosophy classes must be hard!” Two peoples experiences are, in this case, not enough on which to base a conclusion. Tip: Ask yourself what kind of “sample” youre usin
3、g: Are you relying on the opinions or experiences of just a few people, or your own experience in just a few situations? If so, consider whether you need more evidence, or perhaps a less sweeping conclusion. (Notice that in the example, the more modest conclusion “Some philosophy classes are hard fo
4、r some students” would not be a hasty generalization.) Works consulted We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handouts topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find the latest publications on this topic. Please do not u
5、se this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial. We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback. Hurley, Patrick J. A Concise Introduc
6、tion to Logic. Thornson Learning, 2000 Lunsford, Andrea and John Ruszkiewicz. Everythings an Argument. Bedford Books, 1998. Copi, Irving M. and Carl Cohen. Introduction to Logic. Prentice Hall, 1998. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License. You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
