The false dilemma fallacy occurs when a person is given a choice between two options which, at first glance seems to be a hard choice to make because they are contradictory when in fact they are not, and there are really other options available (False, 2005). The false dilemma fallacy is also known as the "either-or" fallacy because it sounds as if you have only two choices but there are really other choices that can be made with equally satisfactory outcomes.
For instance, there is a saying, "America, love it or leave it" which suggests that you have to either love America or leave it and go somewhere else, but those are really not the only two choices you have (False, 2005). You can stay in the country, even if you don't love it - perhaps because your job is here, or your have family here, or other reasons to stay. You can leave it and live overseas even if you love America. Another example is when President Bush says, "You are either with us or you are against us." This is a false dilemma because there are again more than those two options. Just because you don't agree with what the president is doing does not mean you are the enemy or you would do anything to harm America or Americans. This is a false dilemma fallacy. You have more than those two options available to you. False dilemmas are also known as "black and white" thinking because they suggest you have only two options when this is not the case (Fallacy, 2005).
Fallacy: false dilemma. (2005). Retrieved July 6, 2005 from:
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/false-dilemma.html
False dilemma (Either-or fallacy, black and white fallacy.
http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/adhom/dilemma.html
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