Generalizovat

Generalizovat is a Czech verb meaning to extend a statement, rule, or idea beyond the specific cases from which it is derived. It appears in everyday language as well as in academic contexts such as science, mathematics, and logic. The action can describe both legitimate broadening of a theory to a wider class of phenomena and inappropriate overstatement. Etymology: derived from generalizace (generalization) and from the Latin root generalis; see also zobecnit, a closely related verb meaning to generalize.

In reasoning, to generalize means inferring that a property holds for all members of a group based on observations of some members. In mathematics or science, it denotes extending a result from a narrow setting to a more universal one, or from a special case to a broader class of objects. Examples include generalizing a theorem from real numbers to complex numbers or from two dimensions to higher dimensions. In data science, generalization refers to a model’s ability to perform well on unseen data.

Caution: Generalization can lead to errors when based on biased samples or insufficient evidence; the logical fallacy of hasty generalization is a common critique. The noun form is generalizace; related verbs include zobecnit and zobecňovat.

See also: generalizace, zobecnění, zobecnit.