Saturday, October 9, 2010
Interesting/ Useful Topic
One thing that I found to be particularly interesting was in Chapter 6 when Epstein talks about false dilemmas. A false dilemma is a bad use of excluding possibilities where the "or" claim is false or implausible. Sometimes just the dubious "or" claim itself is called a "false dilemma." False dilemmas usually arise when we allow ourselves to be convinced that we have to choose between two exclusive options and that's it. When someone uses a false dilemma they have a sort of "take it or leave it" attitude. False dilemmas omit the consideration of other reasonable alternatives. An example of a false dilemma would be " Rachel has lost some weight. Either she's been going to the gym or she's anorexic." In this example, it's easy to tell that the "or" claim is implausible, and that it excludes possibilities. Rachel could just have a fast metabolism, or maybe she's been running every day to practice for an upcoming marathon. There are different possibilities that could be responsible for Rachel's weight loss, it doesn't mean she's anorexic.
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This was also an interesting topic of mines. This really catches my attention a lot because a lot of people assume like that. You did a nice job by explaining it in good detail and by providing a good example. It truly is so easy to be convinced that we have to choose between two options, "or". Most of the time just as you mentioned, there are different possibilities that aren't mentioned. It is up to the listener/reader to determine that there is more options not just what was mentioned. When you said that people who use false dilemmas have a " take it or leave it " attitude seems true to me. People who believe them do not know how to reason, they have eliminated their possibilities.
ReplyDeleteOh I can really agree with you on believing that false dilemma’s is an interesting topic for chapter six. I can totally understand that people who fall into false dilemmas is when they believe that only have two options and nothing else. They become convinced by the person who presents to them that those are the only two options and nothing else. People who try to convince others with false dilemma’s truly do have the “take it or leave it” attitude. They present you with the situation and options, then they only give you their options to make you feel that those are the only ones you can pick from. They don’t present to you that you have other alternatives that seem more reasonable.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good post. You did a nice job of describing false dilemmas by providing a very good example of what one is. I have come across many false dilemmas in my life. I can relate with this. I do agree with you when you say people think there are only two options connected with "or". People that present you with false dilemmas are basically saying, "its my way or the highway". Basically that their are no other alternatives to the dilemma. People that put others in these situations have narrow views on society and need to broaden their horizons.
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