Spot the Fallacy
If you're not studying everynight, you don't care about school.
False dilemma it ignores balanced study habits.
You either get straight A's or you'll never succeed.
False dilemma success is not limited to grades.
If you don't post about social issues online you don't care
False dilemma activism isn't only online
What does a false dilemma artificially limit?
The number of possible choices.
What is a false dilemma?
An argument that presents only options when more alternative exist.
Either we completely ban vaping or all teens will become addicted.
False dilemma it ignores education. regulation and moderation.
If you don't join clubs, you're wasting your college experience.
False dilemma involvement looks different for everyone.
You're either with us or againt us
False dilemma ignores neutral or mixed positions
Why is this considered a support problem?
Because it does not prove only two options exist
What other name is a false dilemma known by?
False Dichotomy
False dilemma ignores other discipline strategies.
Either teachers assign homework everynight, or students won't learn.
False dilemma learning methods vary
If you don't go to the gym every day, you're Lazy.
False dilemma ignores moderation and rest
How does a false dilemma manipulate the audience?
It pressures them into choosing between extremes
What kind of reasoning error is a false dilemma: truth problem or support problem?
Support problem
Either you support homework everynight, or you hate education.
False dilemma ignores middle-ground positions
If you don't speak up in class, you don't understand the material
False dilemma, some students learn quietly
Either you become a doctor or you'll never make good money
False dilemma, many careers offer financial stability
What question should you ask when you hear an "either/or" argument?
Are these really the only two options
What kind of language usually signals a false dilemma?
"Either/or" statements
Either we raise taxes tomorrow or the country will go bankrupt.
False dilemma igores other economic solutions.
Either we cut weekend homework entirely, or students will burn out forever
False dilemma balance is possible
Either we ban social media entirely or teens will lose all social skills
False dilemma, ignores balanced use.
Why can one or both options in a false dilemma still be true?
Because the fallacy is not about truth, it's about the options unfairly.