The Excluded Middle Fallacy: Definition and Examples
The fallacy of the excluded middle, or the concept of it, has been around since Aristotle's times. Today it remains a common rhetorical trick used by debaters to try to push unreasonable options on their opponents or frame the debate in a way most advantageous to their side.
In this post, we'll discuss what the excluded middle fallacy is and how to identify it in arguments and debate. Most importantly, we'll look at what to do when you catch your opponent using it against you and how to reframe the debate to overcome it!
What Is the Excluded Middle Fallacy?
You may know the fallacy of the excluded middle as the false dilemma or the false dichotomy. In short, it's what happens when someone presents two options as the only possibilities when in fact there are other options beyond the dichotomy.
Once this false dichotomy is constructed, and the middle options excluded, the fallacy can take effect. If one of the two presented options appears false or impossible to condone, then the false dichotomy makes it seem as though the other option must be true by default.
Imagine a debate with the motion "This house would legalize all drugs." The government team might try to persuade the judge that the only options are to legalize all drugs or to dictate that all drugs be illegal, with harsh criminal penalties for possession or use. But this isn't the case. This is a false dichotomy.
This tactic, known as burden pushing, isn't necessarily a bad strategy. After all, it is your interests to persuade the judge that your side is more reasonable than the other! However, it rests on a logical fallacy which suggests the only way to oppose a view is to take the other extreme, and in the real world, this simply isn't true.
How to Spot the Excluded Middle Fallacy
To spot the excluded middle fallacy in debates, listen for language that suggests only two options, ignores alternatives, or dismisses the possibility of a middle ground. If someone presents a situation as either/or and refuses nuance, chances are they're imposing a false dichotomy.
Pay close attention whenever your opponent names your team or uses phrases like "the burden on our opponents..." or "what our opponents have to prove to win the debate..." Especially if these things happen during the beginning of their speeches, it's a sign they are about to push an unwanted burden onto your team!
How to Combat the Excluded Middle Fallacy
In order to combat this tactic, you must effectively reframe the argument and persuade the judge that your position is reasonable and the burden being pushed by your opponent is unfair or incorrect.
You can start preparing for this ahead of time by clarifying with your teammates what burdens the motion really places on you and what your stance will be on the central controversy of the debate. This way, it will be easy to spot and address false dichotomies that misrepresent your burden or stance and paint you into an extreme.
Once you have picked up on the fact that your opponents are presenting a false dichotomy, you should call it out in your next speech. But don't just accuse the other side of committing a logical fallacy! What you want to do is to point out that you don't have to accept the burden they have placed on you. Simply state in clear terms what the motion requires you to prove, and then demonstrate how you have proven it.
What's Next?
The excluded middle fallacy is a fallacy of binary thinking, and recognizing and addressing it will put you a large step closer to winning. On top of that, calling it out and calmly correcting it may damage your opponent's credibility.
False dichotomies aren't the only logical fallacy that can be found in debates. For other common logical fallacies, look no farther than this list.
If you're interested in learning more about argumentation, check out all the programs LearningLeaders offers. Alternatively, sign up for a free trial class below!
