Concept
Concepts are abstractions that differ from concrete reality. These are often based on generalizations. For example, the word tree is a generalization of thousands of species of plant that have things in common such as a trunk and a lifespan that generally exceeds two years. Many words can be viewed as generalizations whereby they describe a general concept as opposed to specific things. The following chart gives a few examples of words that are generalizations.Animal | Beautiful |
City | Ocean |
Person | Planet |
Plant | Running |
Society | Technology |
Adage
Adages are generalizations that provide insight into the nature of things. These are a type of traditional saying that get passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.A penny saved is a penny earned. | Curiosity killed the cat. |
Don't judge a book by its cover. | Look before you leap. |
Opposites attract. | Pride comes before a fall. |
This too shall pass. | What you choose also chooses you. |
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning is the process of building a generalized hypothesis or conclusion using examples that serve as evidence. For example:The teacher was in a bad mood 7 Mondays in a row.
Today is a Monday.
Inference: the teacher might be in a bad mood.
The argument above makes a generalization about an individual's behavior. It is a reasonable argument due to the word "might" in the inference. Today is a Monday.
Inference: the teacher might be in a bad mood.
Proof By Example
Proof by example is a fallacy based on lazy inductive reasoning that incorrectly assumes that things that have one thing in common also have another thing in common.Zhengzhou has poor air quality.
Zhengzhou is a city.
Inference: Cities have poor air quality.
The argument above can be considered invalid logic as it incorrectly assumes that all cities are same in all ways.Zhengzhou is a city.
Inference: Cities have poor air quality.
Heuristics
Heuristics are rules of thumb that allow for fast and efficient problem solving that is suboptimal but "good enough."Any French wine that is any good has an understated label that doesn't call out for attention.
The heuristic above probably isn't very accurate but may be helpful to an individual who knows nothing about wine and needs to pick a bottle quick without lengthy research.Stereotypes
Stereotypes are over-generalizations about people. The term implies an unfair generalization.Foreigners in Japan speak English.
The stereotype above is based on the common assumption in Japan that people who don't appear to be Asian are foreigners who speak English. This may often be true but also creates unfair situations. For example, a black or white person who is born and raised in Japan such that they are Japanese, is constantly assumed to be foreign and incapable of speaking Japanese. Aggressively applying heuristics to people can be hurtful and unfair as people deserve to be treated as individuals.Principles
Principles are generalized rules that are adopted by an individual, organization or society to guide their future. These can be encoded as constitutions, laws, foundational rules or guidelines.Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
~ First Amendment to the United States Bill of Rights
~ First Amendment to the United States Bill of Rights
Ethics
Ethics are broad generalized moral principles that may be adopted by an individual, profession, organization or society.I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing.
~ Hippocratic Oath, 1595 source, English translation from 1923 Loeb Classical Library.
The Hippocratic Oath was historically taken by physicians and was long considered a foundation of medical ethics. ~ Hippocratic Oath, 1595 source, English translation from 1923 Loeb Classical Library.
Categories
A category such as a genre of film is a generalization that can be used to organize things and communicate their basic properties. For example, science fiction is a category of fiction and film that includes elements of future technology, social and environmental change.Topics & Subjects
Wide areas of knowledge are grouped into subjects such as mathematics and philosophy. More specific groupings of knowledge are known as topics. For example, "American jazz musicians of the 1920s" is a topic.Classifications
A classification is a system for labeling things according to shared properties. For example, classifying animals based on their diet with labels such as herbivore, carnivore and omnivore.Conceptual Model
A conceptual model is a concept that has some structure to it. For example, the idea that capitalist societies are based on elements such as markets, consumers and producers.
Summary
The following are common types of generalization.
Overview
Generalizations aren't completely true but can greatly reduce the complexity of things in a pragmatic way that is helpful.
| Overview: Generalization | ||
Type | ||
Definition | The formation of knowledge by identifying common properties and structures in things. | |
Related Concepts | ||
