UNIVERSAL QUANTIFIERS

Question 1

Words like “all,” “none,” “every,” “always,” “never,” are universal quantifiers, a sign that the person is overgeneralizing, and not noticing exceptions.

Example: “All men are jerks.”

How would you respond?

Answer 1

Responses:
1. Repeat the universal quantifier as a question: “All men?”

2. Exaggerate: “You’re saying that every single man you’ve ever met in your entire life has been a total and complete jerk?”
3. Counterexample: “Have you ever met a man who wasn’t?” or, “Can you think of a time when a man wasn’t a jerk?”