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 | The '''no limits fallacy''' is the [[Logical fallacy|illogical idea]] that a poorly understood phenomenon can be extrapolated to infinity or assumed not to 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 == | == Trekkie Examples == | ||
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* [[Reverse engineering]]: if the Federation can obtain a sample of alien technology, they can rapidly reproduce it, no matter how much more advanced it is than their own. | * [[Reverse engineering]]: if the Federation can obtain a sample of alien technology, they can rapidly reproduce it, no matter how much more advanced it is than their own. | ||
* [[Borg]] [[Borg adaptation|adaptation]]: 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]]: 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. | * 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. | ||
[[Category: debate]] | [[Category: debate]] | ||
[[Category: Trekkie Arguments]] | [[Category: Trekkie Arguments]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:52, 3 November 2022
The no limits fallacy is the illogical idea that a poorly understood phenomenon can be extrapolated to infinity or assumed not to 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, no matter how much more advanced it is than their own.
- Borg adaptation: 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.