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Black and white thinking
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(or false dichotomy)
As a writer, you want to ensure that your readers will follow your arguments easily and find them convincing. To build sound arguments, you need to be aware of common errors (or fallacies) in logic and be careful to avoid them. There are many types of logical fallacies. In this article, we'll look at black and white thinking.
In this error in logic, the writer suggests that there are only two (or three) possible options when in fact there is a whole range of positions or choices. (It's like seeing only in black and white and ignoring the shades of gray in between.)
- Those who are not with us are with our enemies!
- [There are more than two possible positions. A person or group could have a neutral stance or could disagree in part with our position without supporting our enemies.]
- Environmental legislation will lead to job losses, because offending factories will have to be shut down.
- [Is shutting down factories the only solution to complying with the legislation?]
- You won't fund my campaign for the protection of purple-crested warblers? How can you claim to be concerned about the environment?
- [Are there only two possible positions: on the one hand, willingness to fund a specific campaign; on the other, lack of concern for the environment?]
