Student Population & Logic

[plinsenmayer]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C7072
From: plinsenmayer
Subject: Student Population & Logic
Date: 8/17/00 12:14 pm  (ET)

Hi:

<<<In the stories we hear mostly about Slytherins and Gryffindors. There
is, at best evidence, 8 students in Harry's House and year. If the Sorting
Hat simply goes by traits and not numbers then we *could* assume that
simply a small amount of students are cunning or brave and therefore in
Gry./Sly. Which brings me to the conclusion that there are 400 to 600
people attending Hogwarts.>>>

I think you skipped a step (or 2 or 3 or more) in the logical progression
of reaching your conclusion. I just don't see how you can jump from
8 Gryffindors in Harry's year to a conclusion that there are 400-600
students at Hogwarts.

With logic, one must explain steps 2-4 and not just skip from step 1 to
step 5 (in a hypothetical involving 5 logical steps in an argument).

Maybe you can prove me wrong, but I think the best evidence is that there
are roughly 20 students in any combination of 2 Houses (there are 20
cauldrons in Double Potions with the Slytherins, 20 broomsticks when they
have flying lessons with the Slyterins, 20 earmuffs in Double Herbology
with the Hufflepuffs). I think those numbers suggest most strongly that
there are 7-12 students per year per House. That means the student body
ranges from 196 - 336.

I don't buy the Quidditch match where there were 200 Slytherin supporters
argument (alumni &/or Hogsmeade residents comprise part of the crowd).

I also don't buy the carriages argument (they may hold fewer than 4
students each & some of them may be transporting luggage).

What did you rely on in determining that there would be a disproportionate
number of Hufflepuffs & Ravenclaws in relation to Gryffindors &
Slytherins? Like I said, you may be able to persuade me that your
argument has merit. But, you can't just leap from Point 1 to Point 5
without explaining the other steps along the way. Well, you can't if
you want to persuade *me* anyway. <g>

Penny (the logical attorney side coming through)