A false dichotomy or false dilemma is a logical fallacy which involves presenting two opposing views, options, or outcomes in such a way they seem to be the only possibilities: if one is true, then the other must be false. In reality, there can be many in-between or other alternative options, not just two mutually exclusive ones.
Flat-Earthers like to ‘disprove’ spherical Earth using their own ignorance about various issues. Then they would regard their erroneous belief that spherical Earth has been disproven as “proof” that the Earth is flat. This is fallacious reasoning because the Earth can be in another shape instead.
The fallacy of false dichotomy has the following structure:
- A and B cannot both be true.
- A is not true.
- Therefore, B is true.
It is fallacious because if A and B cannot both be true, it does not mean if A is not true, then B must be true. It can be that there is another alternative other than A or B.
Disproving spherical Earth is not sufficient to prove a flat-Earth. To prove that Earth is flat, flat-Earthers will need to present independent evidence in favor of a flat Earth, without relying on ‘disproving’ the spherical Earth model. However, by ruling out all of what they consider as “evidence” against spherical Earth, there is barely any “evidence” left in favor of a flat Earth.
References
- False dilemma – Logically Fallacious
- False dilemma – Wikipedia
- False dilemma – RationalWiki