False dilemma
From Exampleproblems
The logical fallacy of false dilemma, which is also known as fallacy of the excluded middle, false dichotomy, either/or dilemma or bifurcation, involves a situation in which two alternative points of view are held to be the only options, when in reality there exist one or more alternate options which have not been considered.
Examples:
- "Mark is late for work. Either his car has broken, or he has overslept. If it can be shown that the latter is false, the former must be true."
This argument is a false dilemma, because there are many reasons why Mark may have been late for work. If it were somehow proven that there were no other possibilities, then the logic would be sound. But until then, the argument is fallacious.
False dilemmas are also common in politics. They are often hidden in (rhetorical) questions, and then become akin to the fallacy of many questions, as in:
- Will you re-elect the ruling party, or face nuclear holocaust?
- Are you with us, or with the forces of evil?
...or they can be done as statements of fact:
- My opponent voted against the public schools spending bill. He must think educating our children is not important.
- America - love it or leave it.
The false dilemma fallacy refers to misuse of the or operator. For another misuse of "or", see the false choice fallacy. For misuse of the and operator, see package deal fallacy.
A false dilemma may not necessarily be limited to two choices; it may involve three possibilities, in which case it is known as a trifurcation, or more, in which case the dilemma may be more the result of accidental omission than deliberate intent.
See also
he:דילמה כוזבת lt:Netikroji dilema nl:Vals dilemma uk:Фальшива дилема zh:假兩難推理
