(March 11, 2017 at 7:24 pm)Jesster Wrote: Containing something does not mean you share those properties as a whole, though.
Quite.
Because our new arrival seems to need it explained, though: the fallacy he is committing is formally titled the fallacy of composition. Put in layman's terms, the sandwich may contain a pickle, but the sandwich is not, itself, a pickle, and descriptions of the pickle do not necessarily apply to the sandwich.
The universe contains life.
The universe is not alive.
"Owl," said Rabbit shortly, "you and I have brains. The others have fluff. If there is any thinking to be done in this Forest - and when I say thinking I mean thinking - you and I must do it."
- A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner
- A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner