phrase

False Dichotomy

Presenting an issue as having only two options when in fact more exist — also called false dilemma or 'black-and-white' thinking.

Origin

Aristotle catalogued it as one of his sophistical refutations. The classic political form is 'you're either with us or against us' (George W. Bush, post-9/11; Lenin, earlier; many others). Real dichotomies do exist — a number is either prime or it isn't — but most policy choices live in a wide middle that the framing erases.

Modern usage

Standard rhetorical move in election campaigns ('jobs or the environment'), advertising ('our brand or pain'), and everyday ultimatums ('it's me or your phone'). Spotting it has become a basic media-literacy skill. The phrase 'false binary' is the more recent synonym.

In the wild

We can't focus on diversity and excellence at the same time — that's a false dichotomy.— common usage

Strawman

Misrepresenting someone's argument as a weaker, easier-to-attack version of itself, then defeating that version instead of the actual claim.

phrase

Logical Fallacies

Slippery Slope

Arguing that one small step inevitably leads to a chain of worse consequences, without showing the steps actually connect.

kiso.to