Russia, Mongolia and Fallacy of Division
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Original Question
Whether this argument could be considered an example of a fallacy of division
The average annual temperature in Russia is lower than the average temperature in Mongolia. So, the average temperature in Moscow is lower than the average temperature in Ulaanbaatar (the capital of Mongolia). Ulaanbaatar is known as the coldest and most polluted capital in the world.
Answers
3Moscow (A) is part of Russia (B).
Russia (B) has property AvgTempX (X).
Therefore, Moscow (A) has property AvgTempX (X).
From this fallacious reasoning, the fallacy of division , and adding the fact/claim that
The average temperature in Ulaanbaatar is AvgTempY.
We wrongly conclude that
AvgTempX < AvgTempY
So although this isn't an example of the fallacy of division itself, it requires the fallacy.
I'm not sure there's a logical fallacy in plan. The claim certainly reflects a misunderstanding of statistics, specifically what "average" means. Although an average is a measure that, for some purposes can be used to represent a larger set of measures, it is factually incorrect to say that an average is exactly equal to each of the individual measures in the larger set -- which is what this statement claims.
I don't see the statement as a misuse or misunderstanding of logic; rather, it sees to be a misuse and misunderstanding of statistics.
This seems like it could fit, though I'd be more confident filing it under non sequitur. We do not see the spread of temperatures in Russia or Mongolia; Moscow could actually be relatively warm, but the other cities in Russia could be so cold that it lowers the average annual temperature to a level cooler than Mongolia.
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