A politician argues: 'This prestigious symphony orchestra is the finest in Europe; therefore, every individual violinist in it must be the finest in Europe.' What fallacy is committed?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. fallacy of division
- Step 1: The argument takes an attribute of the whole group (the finest orchestra) and infers that each individual member must possess that same superlative quality. Inferring that what is true of a whole entity must be true of its constituent parts is the fallacy of division. Answer: fallacy of division. Why not the others: "fallacy of composition error" is the reverse error, inferring that what is true of parts must apply to the whole; "begging the question" assumes the truth of the claim inside the premise without proof; "straw man distortion" misrepresents an opposing argument to make it easier to refute.
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