Introductions aside, Inverse composition fallacy or codification fallacy.

Chat about anything your heart desires here, just be civil. Factual or scientific questions about philosophy go here (e.g. "When was Socrates born?"), and so most homework help questions belong here. Note, posts in the off-topic section will not increase new members post counts. This includes the introductions and feedback sections.
Post Reply
User avatar
Repoman05
Posts: 204
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:26 pm

Introductions aside, Inverse composition fallacy or codification fallacy.

Post by Repoman05 »

Citation: https://onlinephilosophyclub.com/fallac ... sition.php
A fallacy of composition arises when one infers that something is true of the whole from the fact that it is true of some part of the whole or even of every proper part of the whole.

This fallacy is often confused with the fallacy of hasty generalization, in which an unwarranted inference is made from a statement about a sample to a statement about the population from which it is drawn.

The converse of the fallacy of composition is the fallacy of division.

Examples
Consider the argument, "This fragment of metal cannot be broken with a hammer, therefore the machine of which it is a part cannot be broken with a hammer." This is clearly fallacious, because many machines can be broken into their constituent parts without any of those parts being breakable.

Here are some other examples of the fallacy of composition:

Atoms are not visible to the naked eye.
Humans are made up of atoms.
Therefore, humans are not visible to the naked eye

You like the taste of ice cream.
You like the taste of scrambled eggs.
Therefore, you like the taste of scrambled eggs mixed with ice cream.

Discussions and Debates
There are also some examples from our forums where members have brought up the fallacy of composition.

Response by Alun in the thread, "If there is a god, why is there evil?"

Questions or comments?
Finally, if you have any questions about the fallacy of composition or wish to debate something about it, please make a post in our Philosophy Forums. Please also post any comments about this page or suggestions of ways to improve it in the feedback section of the forums.
Codification fallacy - a fallacious argument that arises due to a failure to consider how something might be correct. You can write a whole book on any single thing. You can qualify it till you've spent your whole life doing it. You will however, never ever fully explain that thing.

A "thing" is caporeal. An explanation is incaporeal. You might say, "but look at this lexicon. it's real an voluminous." but that's just begging the legitimacy of the scribbles used to refer to an incorporeal meaning, in-whole and in-part. That there are scribbles used to lead you to understand the intended meaning does nothing to legitimize that intended meaning or claim physical form for it.

Since it mostly or completely impossible to fully explain every aspect of a real "thing" it's important not to make as much nonsense as possible of an intended meaning while engaging in communication. Any and all communication is simply a string of argumentum ad pupulum fallacy that may even yet be an argumentum ad populum fallacy by its total composition. And, any single word or even whole book about a word will always be an agnosia to everything else that wasn't quantified.

This is due to the undeniable separation between subjectivity and objectivity.

Person a: "but everyone has subjectivity, therefore subjectivity is objective."

Person b: "nope."

Person a: "then you must be angry because I made you lie."

Person b: "wrong again and on minimaly three whole counts but I'm not going to get into it."

The really frustrating thing about talking at all is that you're always lying. You're always in cognitive dissonance just to ask for a glass of water. This usually leads fledgling philosophers to get in the habit of making nonsense of anything that possibly could still make good sense.

Thusly, I call this cited logical failure, codification fallacy.

Example:
"This fragment of metal cannot be broken with a hammer, therefore the machine of which it is a part cannot be broken with a hammer." This is clearly fallacious, because many machines can be broken into their constituent parts without any of those parts being breakable.
Sec, baby crying, saving by posting.
User avatar
Repoman05
Posts: 204
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:26 pm

Re: Introductions aside, Inverse composition fallacy or codification fallacy.

Post by Repoman05 »

No edit function to fix and complete my post, pfft. I'll just leave it the way it is then. Most of the point has been made anyway.
User avatar
Repoman05
Posts: 204
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:26 pm

Re: Introductions aside, Inverse composition fallacy or codification fallacy.

Post by Repoman05 »

"Broken" isn't quite completely the same as "disassembled."
User avatar
Repoman05
Posts: 204
Joined: November 10th, 2019, 10:26 pm

Re: Introductions aside, Inverse composition fallacy or codification fallacy.

Post by Repoman05 »

The example was still possibly true. Why the writer didn't change it mean that some parts could be broken is probably because of a lack of edit function. But then again, this was written by admins who have that ability so there's really no excuses (:
Post Reply

Return to “Philosophers' Lounge”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021