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Slothful Induction

The fallacy of denying the logical conclusion of an inductive argument, dismissing an effect as "just a coincidence" when it is very likely not.

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Origin

A classical informal fallacy in logic, catalogued as the mirror image of hasty generalization. Where hasty generalization leaps to a conclusion from too little evidence, slothful induction stubbornly refuses a conclusion despite overwhelming evidence. Also known as the "appeal to coincidence," it has been discussed in logic textbooks since at least the mid-twentieth century.

Updated February 22, 2026