Accident (Fallacy of Accident)

67 Accident

Steven Barbone

This is something in English up with which I will not put!

Attributed to Winston Churchill on ending sentences with a preposition

The fallacy of accident often occurs when we let our attention become distracted by factors, which may be true, other than those relevant in an argument. Accidents do not have to be unintentional, and, in fact, many times the fallacy of accident occurs when something is done quite intentionally. In essence, the fallacy of accident occurs when we apply a generalization that is usually true or good to a particular case to which it does not apply.

For example, we all know the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Generally speaking, it would be a violation of the Golden Rule to wound someone intentionally with a knife. Yet, if you needed an operation, you would welcome the surgeon who slices you open. In this case, it is accidental that the surgeon wounds you since while the surgeon certainly is intentionally cutting you with a knife (if that’s not a wound, then it’s not certain what is), this is not the surgeon’s main goal. The so‐called wounding here is just a step (and a necessary one at that) to achieve a larger goal. Those who claim that the surgeon violates the Golden Rule are guilty of using the accident fallacy since they are applying a generalization – and a good one at that – to a case where it does not apply.

Another example concerns a student, let’s say, Sam. Sam is a notorious cheater, and he is quite well known and appreciated by some for his clever cheat sheets. The instructor, however, knows about Sam’s reputation and takes measures to assure that Sam isn’t able to cheat on the final exam by scrupulously monitoring him. The exam day comes, and Sam does not cheat. Should the instructor think that Sam’s efforts to cheat have been checked? In this case, it is merely an accident that Sam did not cheat because, on this occasion, he misplaced his cheat sheet the day of the exam. Had he had it with him, he would have been able to use it successfully. Again, a generalization – students don’t cheat if you monitor them – is applied to a case where it does not fit.

While the fallacy of accident is an informal fallacy, we can imagine that it has something like this as a form:

1. General principle or rule X applies across the board.
2. Particular case x is an example of X.
3. Thus X applies to x (except it doesn’t since x is a very particular case).

One way to detect or to avoid this fallacy is to ask yourself what generalization is being applied. Once you have that figured out, you can ask yourself whether it really does apply in all cases across the board or whether there is a reason to make an exception in some particular case. If you can think of or imagine some other possibility to the general rule or principle, then you should consider whether the particular case really is a violation of that rule. If such a case exists, beware for a fallacy of accident may be lurking about! And remember, never ever end a sentence with a preposition like up, with, or about.