False Dilemma

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False Dilemma

• By Katy Harvey, Kevin Penn, and Mariah Perkins

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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.
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Rehwinkel, Chasse. The False Dichotomy. 2010.
Chicago Now. Web. 14 April 2011.
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Universal Example

• Morton's Fork
• Mortons 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 doesnt
  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).

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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.

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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 doesnt believe that someone
  who signed the paper can still be with the court
  or simply indifferent to it.