Fallacy of the single cause: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Assumption of a single cause where multiple factors may be necessary}} | {{short description|Assumption of a single cause where multiple factors may be necessary}} | ||
The '''fallacy of the single cause''', also known as '''complex cause''', '''causal oversimplification''',<ref>{{cite web |title=R. Paul Wilson On: The Oversimplification Fallacy |url=https://www.casino.org/blog/the-oversimplification-fallacy/ |website=Casino.org |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref> '''causal reductionism''', '''root cause fallacy''', and '''reduction fallacy''',<ref name="Causal Reductionism">{{cite web|title=Causal Reductionism|url=http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/index.php/logical-fallacies/65-causal-reductionism|access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref> 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]]. | The '''fallacy of the single cause''', also known as '''complex cause''', '''causal oversimplification''',<ref>{{cite web |title=R. Paul Wilson On: The Oversimplification Fallacy |url=https://www.casino.org/blog/the-oversimplification-fallacy/ |website=Casino.org |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref> '''causal reductionism''', '''root cause fallacy''', and '''reduction fallacy''',<ref name="Causal Reductionism">{{cite web|title=Causal Reductionism|url=http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/index.php/logical-fallacies/65-causal-reductionism|access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref> 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]]. | ||
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[[Category:Causal fallacies]] | [[Category:Causal fallacies]] | ||
[[Category:Propaganda techniques]] | |||
Latest revision as of 18:55, 9 June 2025
The fallacy of the single cause, also known as complex cause, causal oversimplification,[1] causal reductionism, root cause fallacy, and reduction fallacy,[2] 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.)[2]
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.
See also
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- List of fallacies – List of Fallacies
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