How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Paradeigma

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Paradeigma

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Paradeigma is the listing of examples in order to generalize.

Example

You didn't call last week or the week before or the week before that. You never call me!

The train is late again. The buses have also been late. And the roads are a nightmare. Clearly the government is incapable of managing its transport policy and we should elect a different party.

That's the third rude child from that school I've met. It must be a very bad school. We certainly mustn't send our children there.

Discussion

Something is not proven as happening always just because it happens once or even a hundred times, although we often and easily create generalizations in this way.

Because this false reasoning is so common, paradeigma may be used in persuasive talk (at least with those who are less likely to challenge) to create a generalization from which desired items may be created as 'facts'.

Classification: Falsehood, Reasoning