Fallacy of Accident
Rigidly applying a general rule to an exceptional case it was never meant to cover.
- informal
The fallacy of accident takes a sound general rule and forces it onto a special case it doesn't fit, ignoring the legitimate exception. The rule holds in ordinary circumstances, but applying it where it doesn't belong yields an absurd or unjust conclusion. (It is the mirror image of hasty generalization.)
Examples
- “Cutting people with a knife is assault, so this surgeon should be charged for operating on her patient.”
- “Free speech is a right, so it must be fine to shout a false fire warning in a packed theater.”
Why it works & how to counter
Persuasive because the general rule really is valid most of the time. Counter it by recognizing that almost every rule has principled exceptions, and asking whether this case is one of them.