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False dichotomy

(FalseDich)

Arguments that attempt to split the world up into two (or more) mutually exclusive, jointly exhaustive options, when in fact there may be additional available options, or the options given do not actually exclude one another.

Avg. 0.15 per section
Eliminating options
5%
18%
41%
14%
23%

Avg. difficulty: 3.3

Key tactics

  • Example of a dichotomy that's false because the options aren't jointly exhaustive (there's a secret third option): "You don't support our righteous cause; therefore, you are against our cause."
  • Example of a dichotomy that's false because the options aren't mutually exclusive (you can choose both): "You are going to law school; therefore, you will not go to business school."
  • LSAT arguments (and arguments in the legal world) often reason by eliminating options -- some successfully, some unsuccessfully. You should aspire to recognize this argument form, then think critically about whether the choices presented to you truly account for all the options, and about whether you must choose between those options rather than picking them both.

Answer choice tips

  • Example answer choices that point to this flaw:
  • assumes without warrant that a situation allows only two possibilities.
  • does not take into account that there may be other ways to stop the decrease in profits.
  • treats two things, neither one of which can plausibly be seen as excluding the other, as though they were mutually exclusive.
  • fails to consider that innate dispositions and social conditioning could jointly affect the popularity of a type of music.

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Logical reasoning question types

Alternate explanation Analogy (LR) Argument part Bad authority Causal chain Causal mechanism Causal reasoning Circular reasoning Conditional reasoning Confusing sufficiency and necessity Correlation Diagram? Directionally wrong Eliminating options Equivocation Evaluate Except (LR) Failed alternate explanation False dichotomy Fighting the hypothetical Fill in the blank Flaw or descriptive weakening Illusory inconsistency Inference Internal contradiction Irrelevant corroboration Kick it up Lack of support v. false conclusion Link assumption Main conclusion or main point Math Mental state v. reality Method of reasoning or descriptive Miscellaneous (LR) Misdirected response Most strongly supported Must be false Must be true Necessary assumption Parallel flawed method of reasoning Parallel method of reasoning Part v. whole Phenomenon-hypothesis (LR) Plausibility Point at issue: agree Point at issue: disagree Principle PSA - find or complete the application PSA - find the rule Quantifier Relative v. absolute Resolve reconcile or explain Rule-application Sampling Source attack Strengthen Sufficient assumption Time Unwarranted assumption Value judgment Weaken Weighing factors

Reading comprehension question types

Analogy (RC) Application Art Author’s attitude Author’s perspective Comparative Critique or debate Describe approach Describe organization Describe relationship Except (RC) Humanities Implied Law Logical continuation Main point Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Miscellaneous (RC) Other’s perspective Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC) Principle or generalization Problem-analysis Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea) Purpose of paragraph Purpose of passage Science Single position Spotlight Stated Structure WSE (RC)

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