False Dichotomy: Difference between revisions

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** It ceases to be a paradox when you consider that the opposite ("not all Cretans are liars") does allow for some Cretans to lie, including Epimenides.
** It ceases to be a paradox when you consider that the opposite ("not all Cretans are liars") does allow for some Cretans to lie, including Epimenides.
*** Unfortunately, this is not true; considering the opposite of a statement does not cause the original to become logically consistent.
*** Unfortunately, this is not true; considering the opposite of a statement does not cause the original to become logically consistent.
*** That's just a second [[False Dichotomy]]. The ''statement'' doesn't need to be logically consistent, since the ''situation'' is: namely, Epimenides is a liar. As such, we can reject what he says, and as such, there is no reason to reconcile his being a liar with him saying "all Cretans always lie".
*** That's just a second False Dichotomy. The ''statement'' doesn't need to be logically consistent, since the ''situation'' is: namely, Epimenides is a liar. As such, we can reject what he says, and as such, there is no reason to reconcile his being a liar with him saying "all Cretans always lie".
* Even if Evolution could be disproven, Creationism would not automatically take its place.
* Even if Evolution could be disproven, Creationism would not automatically take its place.
** However, Creationism IS incompatible with Evolution. The true false dichotomy comes from claiming Christianity and Creationism are the same thing and therefore Christianity and Evolution are incompatible. A large majority of Christians, even in the US, think that YE Creationism is utter nonsense. The dispute isn't helped by outspoken Atheists claiming Evolution disproves religion.
** However, Creationism IS incompatible with Evolution. The true false dichotomy comes from claiming Christianity and Creationism are the same thing and therefore Christianity and Evolution are incompatible. A large majority of Christians, even in the US, think that YE Creationism is utter nonsense. The dispute isn't helped by outspoken Atheists claiming Evolution disproves religion.
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== Looks like this fallacy but is not: ==
== Looks like this fallacy but is not ==
* When two choices encompass all possibilities.
* When two choices encompass all possibilities.
* Normally "[[With Us or Against Us]]" is a false dichotomy but a head of state can declare that all those not declaring themselves to be allies are to be considered enemies. Since such a declaration is performative<ref>''i.e.'', if I declare you my enemy, you are my enemy</ref> it cannot be fallacious, and thus is not itself a false dichotomy, even if the reasoning that leads someone to say that is. It's not very smart under most circumstances, however.
* Normally "[[With Us or Against Us]]" is a false dichotomy but a head of state can declare that all those not declaring themselves to be allies are to be considered enemies. Since such a declaration is performative<ref>''i.e.'', if I declare you my enemy, you are my enemy</ref> it cannot be fallacious, and thus is not itself a false dichotomy, even if the reasoning that leads someone to say that is. It's not very smart under most circumstances, however.
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