Discussion questions week 6: #1

In chapter 8 of the Epstein text we learned about general claims, one specific portion of the chapter I would like to review is section C1 entitled Precise generalities. Precise generalities are claims which use a specific number set to determine the strength or weakness of the claim. This type of generality is most often associated with percentages, and always involves well-defined numbers somewhere between one and all. This type of claim can determine the strength of an argument by evaluating the numbers within, a very high or very low number signifies a strong argument, whereas numbers in the center of the presented range can signify a weak or invalid argument. While these arguments can leave some room for error it is generally accepted that if your argument makes good use of the numbers involved, and there is no information to the contrary, then your precise generality is a strong, valid argument.

An example of this generality happened to me just the other day, I was on the phone with my mother when she told me: "Another house in our neighborhood was targeted by burglars, that's the 5th house out of 40, I think our house might be targeted soon." This claim is a precise generality because it makes use of a defined number system with an apparent start and finish. This claim would be defined as weak though because of the numbers involved, 5 out of 40 houses in a neighborhood being burglarized does not justify any of the remaining houses becoming targets, the number is too low to form a justified argument.