A fallacy of division is where someone forms a conclusion from a true aspect of a thing assuming the true thing also applies to all or some of its individuals or parts.

Fallacy of Division Examples

1. Fallacy: Terrorist attacks committed by Muslims are in the name of Islam, therefore all Muslims are terrorists.

Reality: The majority of Muslims are not terrorists.

2. Fallacy: Israel has killed innocent people therefore all Israelis are murderers.

Reality: The majority of Israelis are not murderers.

3. Fallacy: America is the fattest country on the earth, therefore all Americans are fat.

Reality: Not all Americans are fat.

Fallacy of Division Logic Structure

If A is true about B then it is true about B.1, b.2, and b.3

Argumentation Tactics

When faced with this in a debate or discussion one will have to persistently funnel the talk back to the division from the original truth. The tricky thing about this is that it starts with a true statement, often times both people will agree on the premise. Then a conclusion is made, believed to be logical in nature, but it is actually a logical fallacy. Just focus on the division, the focal point at where truth becomes “not truth”.