Problem
Oversimplification
Experimental visualization of narrower problems
Other Names:
False simplificationMisguided simplification of complexity
Nature:
The fallacy of the single cause, also known as complex cause, causal oversimplification, causal reductionism, and reduction fallacy, is an informal fallacy of questionable cause that occurs when it is assumed that there is a single, simple cause of an outcome when in reality it may have been caused by a number of only jointly sufficient causes.
Fallacy of the single cause can be logically reduced to: "X caused Y; therefore, X was the only cause of Y" (although A,B,C...etc. also contributed to Y.)
Causal oversimplification is a specific kind of false dilemma where conjoint possibilities are ignored. In other words, the possible causes are assumed to be "A xor B xor C" when "A and B and C" or "A and B and not C" (etc.) are not taken into consideration; i.e. the "or" is not exclusive.
Broader Problems:
Inappropriate argumentsGeneral obstacles to problem alleviation Narrower Problems:
ReductionismSimplistic cultural imagesSimplistic concept of familiesTrivialization of human creativityOver-simplification of social conceptsOverreliance on proximate explanationsSimplistic family decision-making structuresSimplistic technical solutions to complex environmental problems Related Problems:
UnpreparednessPaternalistic liesLack of specialized technologyOverriding individual differencesDiscriminatory scientific languageGlobal complexity as a hindrance to leadershipCollapse in the meaning of participating in societyComplexity Aggravates:
Minimization of problemsIncorrect information Strategies:
SimplifyingSimplifying structural complexityBeing truthfulBeing fallaciousOver-simplifyingSimplifying complexity Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
21.04.2022 – 07:31 CEST