GRE General TestAnalytical WritingMedium
A city council is debating whether to fund a new public art initiative. A council member argues, 'We must either invest in public art to uplift our city's culture or let our city's cultural landscape decay entirely. There is no middle ground.' What logical fallacy is this council member employing?
- AAd Populum
- BSlippery Slope
- CStraw Man
- DFalse Dichotomy
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. False Dichotomy
The council member presents only two extreme options – investing in art or total cultural decay – implying that these are the only possibilities when, in reality, there are likely many other alternatives or nuanced approaches to cultural development. This is the definition of a false dichotomy.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Ad populum (appeal to popularity) argues that something is true because many people believe it, which is not the case here.
- B. A slippery slope fallacy suggests that one action will inevitably lead to a series of increasingly negative consequences, which is not the primary flaw.
- C. A straw man fallacy misrepresents an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack, which is not happening here.
False Dichotomy (Black-or-White Fallacy)
A false dichotomy is a logical fallacy that presents only two options or sides when, in reality, there are more possibilities. It forces a choice between two extremes.
- Limits choices to two, often opposing, alternatives.
- Ignores intermediate options or other valid alternatives.
- Often used to oversimplify complex issues and manipulate decisions.
Memory trick: Fallacies FUMBLE logical flow.