GRE General TestAnalytical WritingEasy
A city council is debating whether to fund a new public art initiative. A council member argues, "Either we invest in this public art project, or we allow our city's cultural vibrancy to stagnate and decline into irrelevance." What logical fallacy is most evident in this council member's statement?
- AFalse Dichotomy
- BAd Hominem
- CHasty Generalization
- DAppeal to Emotion
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. False Dichotomy
The council member presents only two extreme options: funding the art or cultural stagnation, ignoring other possible ways to foster cultural vibrancy. This is characteristic of a false dichotomy.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Ad hominem attacks the person, not the argument, which is not occurring in the statement.
- C. Hasty generalization involves making a broad claim based on insufficient evidence, which is not the primary issue here.
- D. While there's an appeal to emotion (fear of decline), the more fundamental logical flaw is the artificial limitation of choices.
False Dichotomy
A logical fallacy that occurs when an argument presents only two options or outcomes as if they are the only possibilities, when in fact more options exist.
- Often presented as an 'either/or' choice.
- Limits the scope of potential solutions or perspectives.
- Can be used to force a decision by eliminating other reasonable alternatives.
Memory trick: FALLACY: Flawed Arguments Lead to Lame Logic And Confusing Your Understanding.