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It's much the same. Both are exceptional and atypical (non-central) in many attributes but fit the definition. "MLK is just a criminal!" and "Jeffrey Dahmer is
by elgenie 8y ago
It's much the same. Both are exceptional and atypical (non-central) in many attributes but fit the definition.
"MLK is just a criminal!" and "Jeffrey Dahmer is just a criminal!" are both non-central attempts to use extreme outliers.
- tremon 8y agoNo, it's not the same. The MLK equivalent of what's being discussed is introducing him as "Martin Luther King, a minister from Georgia...". It's using a very plain language to introduce someone quite exceptional.
- tynpeddler 8y agoThe formal definition clears things up a little: >"X is in a category whose archetypal member gives us a certain emotional reaction. Therefore, we should apply that emotional reaction to X, even though it is not a central category member." The difference between calling MLK a minister and calling him a criminal is that being a minister isn't as negative. Nonetheless, calling him only a minister does evoke an emotional reaction that doesn't quite capture the power of MLK's role in society. Introducing him as a minister is an example of the non-central fallacy, but it's played for ironic effect.