A city planner argues: 'To alleviate traffic congestion, we must either expand our existing road network or heavily invest in public transportation. Since expanding our road network is prohibitively expensive, we should focus all our efforts on public transportation.'
- AIt does not provide a specific cost for expanding the road network.
- BIt overlooks the possibility that public transportation might also be prohibitively expensive.
- CIt fails to consider that a combination of both strategies might be the most effective solution.
- DIt assumes that expanding the road network and investing in public transportation are the only two solutions.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. It assumes that expanding the road network and investing in public transportation are the only two solutions.
The city planner presents a false dichotomy by suggesting there are only two options: road expansion or public transportation. This ignores other potential solutions to traffic congestion, such as promoting cycling, telecommuting, staggering work hours, or implementing congestion pricing. The argument then concludes by eliminating one of the two presented options, forcing the other as the only choice.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The argument states it's 'prohibitively expensive,' which is sufficient for its premise. The exact cost doesn't change the logical structure of the argument.
- B. This would weaken the conclusion's practicality but doesn't address the primary flaw of assuming only two options exist in the first place.
- C. While a combination is a third option, the more fundamental flaw is the initial framing that *only* these two exist. If other options exist, then a combination of these two might still not be the best or only path.
False Dichotomy (False Dilemma)
A fallacy that presents only two options or outcomes as exhaustive and mutually exclusive, when in reality there are other possibilities or a combination of options is possible.
- Often presented as 'either/or' situations.
- Limits the scope of possibilities unfairly.
- Can be used to force a choice by discrediting one option.
Memory trick: Don't omit the middle ground; other options can always be found!