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Accident

A general rule is applied when circumstances suggest that an exception to the rule should apply.

The fallacy of accident occurs when we suppose that what is true of a term used in a relatively indeterminate or unconditioned sense, is true of the term when used in a relaticely determinate or conditioned sense. The Latin name of the fallacy is, Argumentum a dicto simpliciter ad dictum secundum quid.

Davies, A Textbook of Logic, p. 520.

Examples

The law says that you should not travel faster than 50 kph, thus even though your father could not breathe, you should not have travelled faster than 50 kph.


It is good to return things you have borrowed. Therefore, you should return this automatic rifle from the madman you borrowed it from. (Adapted from Plato’s Republic, Book I).

Critique

Identify the generalization in question and show that it is not a universal generalization. Then show that the circumstances of this case suggest that the generalization ought not to apply.