# Topic: Abstraction

Treating an abstract concept as if it were something concrete, have human-like properties, or is identical to what it merely represents.

| Fallacy | Trigger – look for … |
| ------- | -------------------- |
| **[Anthropomorphisation](https://ad.hominem.info/check/abstraction/anthropomorphisation.md)** |  Specifically *human* traits (emotion, intention, character) attributed to a non-human or abstract entity. |
| **[Pathetic fallacy](https://ad.hominem.info/check/abstraction/pathetic_fallacy.md)** |  Human emotions or moral attitudes attributed to inanimate objects, nature, or abstract systems (“the market fears”, “nature abhors”, “the economy punishes”) as if factual (specialized form of Anthropomorphisation). |
| **[Objectification](https://ad.hominem.info/check/abstraction/objectification.md)** |  A *person* – not a concept – is treated as a thing, tool, or mere function ('resources', dehumanizing language), or assumed in reasoning to behave like predictable, passive objects. |
| **[Ontological fallacy](https://ad.hominem.info/check/abstraction/ontological_fallacy.md)** |  Existence inferred merely from a *word* for it, its *definition*, or its *conceivability*. |
| **[Semiotic fallacy](https://ad.hominem.info/check/abstraction/semiotic_fallacy.md)** |  A *symbol, sign, model or metric* is conflated with the *thing it stands for*. |
| **[Procrustean fallacy](https://ad.hominem.info/check/abstraction/procrustean.md)** |  *Reality* (data, processes, objects) is actively manipulated or forced to fit a pre-existing *model*, framework, or theory – rather than adapting the model to reality. |
| **[Hypostatization](https://ad.hominem.info/check/abstraction/hypostatization.md)** |  An abstract or collective noun (the market, society, history) is treated as an agent with intentions, actions, or responsibility, beyond conventional shorthand (“the company announced” → OK; “the market punished investors” → flag). |

#END.