Chapter 48

While reading chapter 48, I found that there is a couple of main ideas that stuck out to me. One of them was Generalizing- this subject is very broad but it breaks it down in the chapter. Overall generalizing is when we are engaged  in inductive reasoning. This reasoning deals with probability, not certainty.
One fallacy of generalizing is called hasty- this is when a conclusion is based on insufficient or unrepresented evidence.
Another fallacy of generalizing is stereotypes- this is still apart of hasty generalizing but has a different meaning. This fallacy is very common, that is because of human tendencies. We perceive selectively. The book states that we tend to see what we want to see, we form evidence from our own opinions and we fail to notice the evidence on the opposing side. I do this all the time, and its usually without notice, I then justify my thoughts and what I think that I heard to make my opinion be the one that is correct, not thinking about the opposing side, at the time, in my mind, it does not matter.

The other main idea that stuck out to me was- Judge how fairly a writer handles opposing views. This is when a writer deals with opposing views, some writers also address the arguments of the opposition fairly, conceding points when necessary and courting others all in a civil spirit. The books states that others will will do almost anything to win an argument. I can personally relate to this, if I feel passionate about something that I have to debate. I stereotype when I have to do this.

When reading this chapter, I have to admit that it was a little hard to concentrate on the topics. I am not to sure why but overall I found the information valuable. I think that in my future writing I will use the information on generalizing. Because the topic is so broad, this chapter breaks down the generalizing fallacies. This will help me in my next essay or writing when I have a topic that is very broad and hard to break down. The stereotyping portion of the chapter will defiantly help me, because I tend to do that often.