Skip to content
Ordinary Time

Reasoning & Fallacies

False Dichotomy

noun

Presenting only two options as if they were the only ones, when other possibilities exist.

Also called: false dilemma, either/or fallacy

Not To Be Confused With

Some dichotomies are real and exclusive (Christ is either God or not). It is a FALSE dichotomy only when genuine further options are hidden.

“Either Scripture alone or Scripture plus tradition added on top” can be a false dichotomy if it hides how the traditions actually relate Scripture and tradition. The repair is to ask: are these really the only two options?

Examples

  • “Either take Genesis 1 as 24-hour days or you don't believe the Bible” — ignores other faithful readings.

Related Terms

Seen In These Debates

False Dichotomy — Definition | Theologos Media