A false dilemma fallacy occurs when someone claims that there are only two possible options or sides to an argument when there are actually more. It's about a method manipulative that forces others to accept the speaker's point of view as legitimate, feasible, or ethical. This type of black-and-white thinking often appears in political speeches, advertising, and everyday conversations.
Cause
The false dilemma fallacy occurs when someone incorrectly presents a limited number of options as if there are no alternatives. In such cases, they have (intentionally or not) overlooked other possibilities. This distortion usually works by presenting only two extreme choices (when there are actually more) or by suggesting that these choices are mutually exclusive (when they are not).
The "either or" fallacy often occurs with the straw man fallacy, which involves misrepresenting an opposing point of view. When we simplify someone else's point of view and present it as an easily attackable alternative, we usually replace their original point of view with a weakened version of it.
The either-or error can occur for a number of different reasons, including:
- Simplicity. Considering just two alternatives is simpler and more practical than exploring a wide range of possibilities. Binary options require less mental effort and time to process.
- Language. Disjunctions (statements connected by the word “or”) are often used to frame concepts as polar opposites (e.g., good versus bad, moral versus immoral). It can shape our thoughts and cause us to view complex issues in terms of extremes.
- Persuasion. Describing a scenario with just two extreme choices can be a compelling strategy for convincing others to adopt a specific point of view. Presenting a position as the only viable option simplifies its justification and defense.
- Cognitive bias. There is an inherent tendency to perceive the world in terms of opposites or limited options. Cognitive biases such as black-and-white thinking and all-or-nothing thinking can unconsciously contribute to the “either-or” fallacy.
- Lack of consideration. In some cases, people can make an honest mistake by not thoroughly considering all available options. This leads them to ignore the middle ground and perceive a situation as a choice scenario.
How to avoid false dilemmas
The “either or” fallacy is problematic because it limits understanding of the problem by question. When we present people with only two options, we mislead them and force them to think in extreme ways, leaving no room for nuance or compromise.
At the individual level, “either-or” errors can lead us to overlook alternatives and miss out on potentially better options. When we fall into the trap of false dichotomies, our perception of the problem or issue becomes distorted. This, in turn, can lead to a superficial understanding and incomplete analysis of the problem. The inability to see beyond binary options can also make us close-minded and prevent us from engaging in compromise.
Never close your perspectives by stating a list of possibilities, it is better to explain what you see than to make limited hypotheses and validate the one that responds best (it is very dangerous in research to make a hypothesis/conclusion even before to do the methodology and the results).
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