The attempt to apply a broadly accepted logical framework (like deductive reasoning) to a situation where the premises are too vague, subjective, or contested for the logic to yield a reliable conclusion. It’s using a good tool on the wrong material.
Example: "His general logic sounded solid: 'All birds have feathers. A penguin is a bird. Therefore, penguins can fly.' The logic was formally valid, but the general understanding of 'bird' he relied on was flawed for this specific case, making the conclusion famously wrong."
by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026
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