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    iluvu4's Avatar
    iluvu4 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 30, 2010, 07:13 PM
    Identifying fallacies
    What kind of fallacy is used in this sentence? Look, either we legalize all drugs or we don't legalize any?
    Clough's Avatar
    Clough Posts: 26,677, Reputation: 1649
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    #2

    Jul 1, 2010, 01:14 AM
    Hi, iluvu4!

    But, what is the premise on which the fallacy is based, please?

    I've just given you a hint as to the kind of fallacy it is by asking you that question.

    Thanks!
    TUT317's Avatar
    TUT317 Posts: 657, Reputation: 76
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    #3

    Jul 2, 2010, 02:10 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by iluvu4 View Post
    what kind of fallacy is used in this sentence? Look, either we legalize all drugs or we don't legalize any?
    Hello iluvu4.

    Consider the principle of contravalence which states that no proposition can be true or false at the same time. This idea can be traced back to Classical Logic.

    The proposition you have put forward is of the 'either or' type. Such propositions don't allow for any 'middle ground'. In other words, it has to be one or the other. How true is this?

    Consider this...

    A person is said to be either bald or not bald. But at what stage can we say that a person with hair is bald. In other words, which hair falls out that makes a person suddenly cross over to baldness?

    Hope this gives you a clue.

    Tut
    elscarta's Avatar
    elscarta Posts: 118, Reputation: 20
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    #4

    Jul 2, 2010, 09:01 AM
    Hi, this is an example of "False dilemma" which is also known as "False Dichotomy" where only two choices are given as possibilities where in fact there are other options. In your case there is the option of legalising some drugs only.

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