what paradox / fallacy is this? "if i hold a gun, im safe. if everyone holds a gun, is it really safe?"

Question

which paradox or fallacy does it fall under?

Answer 1

I believe the closest (though not completely fitting) fallacy that such statements come to is the composition/division fallacy.

Composition: "assuming that a whole must have the properties of its parts, e.g., 'Since the members of the team are fine athletes, the team must be a fine team.' Even fine athletes may work poorly together."

Division: "assuming that the parts of a whole must have the propreties of the whole, e.g., 'Since this is a fine team, the members of the team must be fine athletes.' A group of players may work together effectively without being outstanding individual players."

These are only the closest that I know formally; however, I would argue that the first premise itself is faulty. "If I hold a gun, I'm safe"--(1) is that true for an infant unaware of the uses of the gun and (2) is that true for the depressed individual that is suicidal?

Answer 2

I think the distinction is between holding them and firing them. If everyone is holding a gun, then nobody has the ability to bully anybody else. Since nobody is stronger than a bullet, everyone has an equal measure of protection. I'm not saying that I totally agree with the concept, but it is preferable to total anarchy. What these visionaries fail to take into account is that we do not all have equal eyesight, equal will to pull the trigger, equal access to ammunition, or even equal access to the best firearms. All things being equal, we would all be safe, but as usual nothing is ever really equal - sigh -

Answer 3

Mutually assured destruction. Not a fallacy, it apparently works or has so far.

Answer 4

fallacy of the bandwagon effect?
"assuming that the popularity of an idea or product should be sufficent to support its claim"

Answer 5

It's a syllogism, which means it is logically sound, but in reality untrue. It's a sophism, I think.

Answer 6

...But if you hold a gun to a head of a YAHOO customer support rep, you still won't get your money back
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