Difference between false dichotomy and false binary

jessica0512.kimjessica0512.kim Core Member
in Logical Reasoning 17 karma

Can someone explain to me the difference between those two flaw types?

Comments

  • LivinLaVidaLSATLivinLaVidaLSAT Alum Member
    720 karma

    Did you see something somewhere that makes some sort of distinction between the two? As far as I know, they're the same thing. You can use either term. With a false dichotomy, aka false binary, only 2 options are presented and all other possible options are ignored.

  • LauranphLauranph Alum Member
    12 karma

    I've never seen a question that makes you distinguish them but for what it's worth:

    False binary: something is a spectrum, but the argument is acting like it's not (extreme example: Spiderman is not my favorite movie, therefore it is my least favorite movie)

    False dichotomy: more than one of two things could be true, but the argument assumes they are mutually exclusive (example: I like vanilla ice cream, therefore I don't like chocolate ice cream)

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