False Dilemma Kati & Sydney

False Dilemma A consideration of only the two extremes when there are one or more intermediate possibilities.

Universal Example of False Dilemma “AP Calculus class is impossible; either you get it or you don’t.” This statement sounds like a great way to explain to your parents why you just earned a less-than-stellar grade on your last calculus test, but it sets up a false dichotomy. In fact, there are various levels of understanding and thus various degrees of success in AP Calculus, and as is the case in many fields, success is a direct result of effort.

Example from The Crucible False Dilemma Mr. Danforth Act III; Page 213 “But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there is no road between.”

Example from The Crucible cont. Mr. Danforth is saying that you must be with the court or you are automatically against it. He does not tell that you can agree with some parts of the court and disagree with others. You do not have to make a definite decision.

Example from The Crucible False Dilemma Mr. Danforth Act III; Page 216 “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.”

Example from The Crucible cont. Mr. Danforth is accusing Mary Warren of lying . When she said she is not lying, then he automatically assumed that she lied while in court. According to Mr. Danforth, it is not a possibility that she was telling the truth both times, or that she was lying both times. The punishment was the same for if she had lied or if she had told the truth.