False Dilemma
Black and White Thinking
Black and White Thinking
Description:
States that if A is true, then B is false or if B is true, that A must be false.
((There are situations which this is true. In such a situation, this reasoning is not fallacious.))
Example I:
1.) (1 + 2 = 3) or (1 + 2 = 5)
2.) (1 + 2 =/= 3)
3.) Therefore (1 + 2 = 5)
To those versed in basic arithmetic, it is clear that both answers are false.
Example II:
Bill: "Jill and I both support having prayer in public schools."
Jill: "Hey, I never said that!"
Bill: "You're not an atheist are you Jill?"
This example asserts that if one does not support having public prayer in school, than one must be an atheist. However, it is true that one can both not support public prayer and not be an atheist.
Alternative Names:
False Choice
False Dichotomy
Falsified Dilemma
Fallacy of the Excluded Middle
False Correlative
Either/Or Fallacy
Bifurcation
