Simpsons Logical Fallacies: Either/Or Fallacy (False Choice)

Open captions change to closed captions during second half of video. Use of copyrighted content is protected by fair use which says that copyrighted content can be used so long as commentary is given. Definitions of logical fallacies come from Practical Argument by Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell.

[karcharias]

A better name for this is the False Dichotomy fallacy. And yes I agree that when there is a third or more options available to a dispute over best practices this is a fallacy. However when it concerns truth claims there is no such fallacy. All truth claims, properly formulated, eventuate into either/or options.

[e]

"C'mon"
"That's a good point"😂

[Pine_Gap_Island]

_"The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum.”_
- Noam Chomsky

[Unknown-sgtv]

This is only a fallacy if there are middle grounds options available.
If there's no middle grounds then it is not a fallacy.

[increasedecrease]

Principle Skinner stated that the budget was already tight, indicating that there was nothing to cut. Your claim that this is a false choice is refuted by the video. Whether or not there are other things to cut that fit one person's opinion over another's is beside the point. There are plenty of false dichotomy representations in our culture and likely in The Simpsons as well. You should probably present a better example of this.

[Inkyminkyzizwoz]

I think you could do with including possible exceptions to these fallacies. For instance, this particular argument isn't a fallacy if there really are only two options. (It also isn't a fallacy if there are potentially other options but they're not being offered. For instance, in 2011 we had a referendum here in the UK on whether to switch to preferential voting and many people voted against it because it wasn't the system they wanted, which was proportional representation. However, it was the only system that the Government were prepared to offer, so voting against it was effectively voting to keep the current one)

[chaosinorder]

It’s more commonly known as a false dilemma. But that works too.

[trinityy-]

explaining this logical fallacy when "come on" convinced the crowd is kinda funny

[SpidermanandJeny]

You could also call this a False Dilemma

[dentistclub]

in our lesson it was also called false dichotomy

[Jesse_Scoccimarra]

I finally understand this fallacy, thanks

[napoleoncomplex]

The whole problem in this episode is that Skinner HAS no wiggle room in the budget. Classes have already been cut to the core and the teachers are underpaid as well. The cafeteria serves poor quality food, the school bus is (hilariously) unsafe, and the school can't afford any school trips and has to resort to stealing gasoline for the bus.

[SharpDesign]

"You have to vote for one of us!"

"I'll vote for a third party candidate."

[heavymeddle]

I believe Simpsons has thousands of this logical fallacy 😅

[flyingturretthecannon]

Either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain. - someone who committed a fallacy

[comrademartinofrappuccino]

The ideology of centrism prety much is this fallacy, they lack the ability to see nuance and inherent contraditcions per ideology.

[FryingMike]

Either? Or? It is what is is, and what is all on you. So have keep having fun and be WISE with your choices. ABC XYZ ?@$