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| logic:informal_fallacies:emergence:composition [02.06.26, 18:49:04] – [See also] sascha | logic:informal_fallacies:emergence:composition [31.08.26, 18:41:43] (current) – sascha |
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| ====== Fallacy of Composition ====== | == Fallacy of Composition (moved) == |
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| An informal [[logic:informal_fallacies:emergence:index|fallacy of emergence]], in which properties of a whole are inadmissibly inferred to from its parts. | #REDIRECT logic:emergence:composition |
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| For example: | |
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| > <var>Chloride</var> is poisonous. | |
| > <var>Sodium</var> is poisonous. | |
| > <span conclusio><s invalid>Therefore, <var>sodium chloride</var> must also be poisonous.</s></span> | |
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| //Sodium chloride//, better known as [[wp>Salt|common salt]], is an essential food ingredient, even though its atomic components are dangerous chemicals. | |
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| ===== Other names ===== | |
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| * Exception fallacy | |
| * <i :la>Fallacia compositionis</i> | |
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| ====== Description ====== | |
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| The //fallacy of composition// is counterpart to the [[logic:informal_fallacies:emergence:division|fallacy of division]]. They both share the aspect that the phenomenon of [[glossary:emergence|emergence]] is ignored. It refers to a situation in which properties of parts are transferred to the whole, without checking or validating that they have not changed or disappeared in the higher systemic level. | |
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| This can also be used in situations when a //resultant// change in the properties of the whole is misrepresented: For example, in chemistry, ignoring that energy is released in chemical reactions and thus the energy of a compound may not be equal to the sum of that of the components. | |
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| <aside info> | |
| **Note:** making a clear distinction between //emergent// and //resultant// properties can be difficult and is often up for debate. This debate is especially controversial in sciences like [[wp>Physics]] and [[wp>Chemistry]]. However, the fact that drawing a clear line is //difficult// does not imply that such a distinction does not exist (<span maniculus "see:">[[:logic:informal_fallacies:sorites|sorites fallacy]]</span>). | |
| </aside> | |
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| ===== More examples ===== | |
| ==== Teamwork ==== | |
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| Take, for example, a football team consisting only of the best players: | |
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| > <var>A</var> is the best striker, | |
| > <var>B</var> is the best midfielder, | |
| > ... | |
| > <var>K</var> is the best goalkeeper. | |
| > <span conclusio><u questionable "Fallacy of Composition">All together they are the best football team.</u></span> | |
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| While it is certainly helpful to have outstanding players in the team, in order to be the "best" team they must also //cooperate// excellently. This "interplay" is an //emergent// property of a team, which the individual players cannot display on their own, without actually being part of a team. | |
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| The same could be said, for example, about an orchestra, a band, as well as countless other groupings where good teamwork is an important criterion for success. | |
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| ===== See also ===== | |
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| * [[knowledge:ecological_fallacy|Ecological fallacy]] | |
| * [[generalization:mereological_fallacy|Mereological fallacy]] | |
| * [[logic:informal_fallacies:emergence:division|Fallacy of division]] | |
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| ===== More informationen ===== | |
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| * [[http://www.fallacyfiles.org/composit.html|Composition]] on //Fallacy Files// | |
