Difference between revisions of "No limits fallacy"
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The '''no limits fallacy''' is the [[Logical fallacy|illogical idea]] that a poorly understood phenomenon can be extrapolated to infinity or assumed to not have any maximum value or threshold. For a gross example, observing that a [[shield]] can easily withstand an attack from a particular weapon, one might illogically conclude that the shield could withstand fire from an unlimited number of those weapons at the same time, or that it could withstand fire from a similar weapon that was much more powerful. | The '''no limits fallacy''' is the [[Logical fallacy|illogical idea]] that a poorly understood phenomenon can be extrapolated to infinity or assumed to not have any maximum value or threshold. For a gross example, observing that a [[shield]] can easily withstand an attack from a particular weapon, one might illogically conclude that the shield could withstand fire from an unlimited number of those weapons at the same time, or that it could withstand fire from a similar weapon that was much more powerful. | ||
== Examples == | == Trekkie Examples == | ||
* The [[no laser fallacy]]: if a small, technologically inferior ship cannot hurt the ''Enterprise'' with its lasers, | * The [[no laser fallacy]]: if a small, technologically inferior ship cannot hurt the ''Enterprise'' with its lasers, then NO laser can hurt a Federation starship. | ||
* [[Reverse engineering]]: if the Federation can obtain a sample of alien technology, they can rapidly reproduce it. | * [[Reverse engineering]]: if the Federation can obtain a sample of alien technology, they can rapidly reproduce it. | ||
* [[Borg]] [[Borg adaptation|adaptation]] and assimilation: if a Borg cube can negate the weapons of one Federation starship after adapting, it can negate ANY weapon via adaptation. | * [[Borg]] [[Borg adaptation|adaptation]] and assimilation: if a Borg cube can negate the weapons of one Federation starship after adapting, it can negate ANY weapon via adaptation. | ||
Revision as of 14:07, 9 September 2022
The no limits fallacy is the illogical idea that a poorly understood phenomenon can be extrapolated to infinity or assumed to not have any maximum value or threshold. For a gross example, observing that a shield can easily withstand an attack from a particular weapon, one might illogically conclude that the shield could withstand fire from an unlimited number of those weapons at the same time, or that it could withstand fire from a similar weapon that was much more powerful.
Trekkie Examples
- The no laser fallacy: if a small, technologically inferior ship cannot hurt the Enterprise with its lasers, then NO laser can hurt a Federation starship.
- Reverse engineering: if the Federation can obtain a sample of alien technology, they can rapidly reproduce it.
- Borg adaptation and assimilation: if a Borg cube can negate the weapons of one Federation starship after adapting, it can negate ANY weapon via adaptation.
- Borg invasion of other dimensions: since the Borg attempted to invade the home dimension of Species 8472, they must have already invaded and successfully assimilated multiple other dimensions.