Pick one concept from either text, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it. Use either Chapter 6 or Chapter 7.
False Dilemmas
Chapter 6 explains another way in which we can identify when a compound claim is a bad argument. It is called a false dilemma. False dilemmas occur when you exclude possibilities from your argument, which makes your “or” claim false or dubious. The reason why false dilemmas make a bad argument is because they leave out certain possibilities that will ultimately lead you to a false conclusion.
For example: Your mother tells you off and says that either you eat your vegetables everyday or you’ll be unhealthy for the rest of your life.
This is an example of a false dilemma because your mother is giving you an either or claim by saying either you do this or that will happen to you. She is leaving out all the other possibilities of ways in which you can live a healthy life so that her child will think that they have to eat their vegetables everyday or else they will be unhealthy for the rest of their lives. This claim is certainly not true as her child could eat fruits and exercise to live a healthy life. Vegetables are good for you but not eating them will not make you unhealthy. Ultimately, the reasoning behind this mother’s claim is to make her child eat his/her vegetables. However, the claim is dubious, has a false conclusion, and she leaves out other possibilities, which makes this claim a false dilemma and a bad argument.
I thought your example of a false dilemma was the perfect example. I find that many parents use false dilemmas to try to make their children do what they want. They use false dilemmas because they want their children to understand the importance of what they are asking of and they want their children to take what they are saying seriously. I think false dilemmas are ridiculous and don’t really have a high chance of working out unless the person hearing the false dilemma is very gullible and trusting. In order for a person to make this argument a good one they have to add claims to support their argument.
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