Understanding False Dilemma: Beyond Extremes

1. False Dilemma By: Katy Harvey, Kevin Penn, and Mariah Perkins

2. A False Dilemma (also known as a False Dichotomy) consists of a consideration of only the two extremes when there are one or more intermediate possibilities.

3. Rehwinkel, Chasse. “The False Dichotomy.” 2010. Chicago Now. Web. 14 April 2011.

4. Universal Example • Morton's Fork • Morton’s Fork is an argument, dating back to the 19th century, used by John Morton, an English statesman. He said that if a man lived well he was obviously rich and if he lived frugally then he must have savings. This is a false dilemma because two different extremes are given, but the statement doesn’t allow the possibility that someone who lived well may be poor or that someone who lived frugally may not have savings. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Morton's Fork." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (April 21, 2011).

5. Example 1 from The Crucible Danforth: “I will tell you this – you are either lying now, or you were lying in the court, and in either case you have committed perjury and you will go to jail for it. You cannot lightly say you lied, Mary. Do you know that?” Page 216, Act 3 This is a false dilemma because Danforth only allows two possible scenarios and never considers that she may have been lying both times or not at all.

6. Example 2 from The Crucible Danforth: “No, old man, you have not hurt these people if they are of good conscience. But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.” Page 213, Act 3 This is a false dilemma because it is believed that someone can only be with the court or against it. Danforth doesn’t believe that someone who signed the paper can still be with the court or simply indifferent to it.