WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Word to the Wise: False Dichotomies

Episode Date: May 5, 2025

The secret fallacy destroying modern dialogue.

Hi, I'm Ariel McDowell here with a word to the wise. Have you ever heard of the fallacy called a false dichotomy? Cambridge Dictionary defines it as a choice between two things that is presented as if they are the only two possible things. You probably encounter false dichotomies more often than you know. For example, either women are made to live exactly like men or women should be tradwides. Either all vaccines are good all the time, no matter what, or humans should never get them. either open borders are good or immigration is bad. Each of these is a great example of a false dichotomy. False dichotomies trap us because usually if a false dichotomy is being drawn both options are really far from ideal. They're born by simplifying the position of the other side and usually

neither option reflects the truth. This is a common issue in sociopolitical dialogue, but once you're aware of it, you can work around it. Noticing false dichotomies is the best way to avoid making them. This has been a word to the Wise on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM.