What is the opposite of generalization? Because that is what liberals do.?

Question

They will cite an example that is in the clear minority but act as if it is the norm. For instance. When you mention rape as a reason for legalized abortion as if all of the women at the clinic have been raped. Or, as one respondent to a question of mine said, the fact that Kerry is rich refutes my argument that Republicans tend to be more successful in business. So John Kerry being rich, one example, refutes an entire argument of which party tends to be more successful? Or one extreme excuse for an abortion, rape, is used by liberals to justify the majority, irresponsible sexual behavior. I will continue to generalize so long as you do the opposite of generalize, whatever the word for it is.

Answer 1

opposite of generalization is specification and you're making a generalization that that is what liberals do.

Answer 2

This is what's known as the logical fallacy of accident, also called destroying the exception or a dicto simpliciter ad dictum secundum quid. It is when someone attempts to refute a general rule, or generalization, by citing an exception that easily fits within the generalization. Its status as a generalization is ignored and treated as a categorical rule.

If you had said that ALL Republicans are successful in business, and NO Democrats are, it would have been a categorical rule, and then that exception about John Kerry would have been significant. But you said the word "tend to be". That is a generalization that allows for exceptions. Your repsondant chose to ignore that, and replied with the John Kerry exception as though it destroyed your generaliztion. It did not, and all this did was demonstrate the other person's poor comprehension skills and grasp of basic logic.

And the opposite of generalization is not what they are saying. The opposite of a generalization, or a general statement, is a CATEGORICAL STATEMENT. OR, if A is a generalization of B, then B is a SPECIALIZATION of A. So in that sense, Specialization is the opposite of a generalization.

Answer 3

Neither of the two dichotomized political stripes is immune from generalization when it suits their purposes. Both conservatives and liberals do it. But you've mischaracterized the "rape-abortion" issue. It is not a "generalization" but a rational refutation of the idea that abortion ought to be forbidden by law. People who reference the "rape" scenario do not (usually) think that rape constitues a large percentage of total abortions. They're merely making the point that specific cercumstances are best known and appreciated by the pregnant person herself.


The opposite of generalization, by the way, is "specificity".

Answer 4

By saying "that is what liberals do", you have engaged in generalization.

I will continue to do the opposite of generalize so long as you generalize.

Answer 5

The opposite is not thinking with a closed mind but rather keeping an open free mind, in a word, open-mindedness.

Since you need definitions:

One entry found for liberal.

Entry Word: liberal
Function: adjective
Text: 1 not bound by traditional ways or beliefs
Synonyms broad-minded, nonconventional, nonorthodox, nontraditional, open-minded, progressive, radical, unconventional, unorthodox
Related Words advanced, contemporary, modern; forbearing, indulgent, lenient, permissive, tolerant; extreme; impartial, objective, unbiased
Near Antonyms hard, rigid, strict; doctrinal, dogmatic; bigoted, intolerant, narrow-minded; reactionary
Antonyms conservative, conventional, nonprogressive, old-fashioned, orthodox, traditional
2 being more than enough without being excessive -- see PLENTIFUL
3 giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation -- see GENEROUS 1

Keep generalizing, we all know you can't think for yourself anyway.

Answer 6

Laws are made to protect the minority. If Liberals generalize and you want the opposite you must mean republicans and lying because thats what they do.

Answer 7

But we don't all generalize. Some people do, but certainly not most or all.

You're making a pretty lousy generalization there, spanky.

Answer 8

Perhaps you are the one generalizing about liberals. Shafted.

Answer 9

By saying "that is what liberals do", you have engaged in generalization.

Hypocrite!