excluded middle fallacy

Definitions

The fallacy of assuming that only two alternatives exist when other possibilities are available.

A fallacy involving misuse of the law of excluded middle, which states that a proposition is either true or false.

Examples

The debate relied on the excluded middle fallacy, ignoring reasonable alternatives.

She avoided the excluded middle fallacy by considering more than two possible outcomes.

Synonyms

false dilemma false dichotomy either-or fallacy black-and-white fallacy