Explanation
The misleading presentation of a situation as if there were only two possibilities. In the atlas, the term is not treated in isolation: it reveals artificially narrowed spaces of possibility. This makes it clear what distinctions the form enables and how it relates to related phenomena.
Example
Either you agree, or you don’t care about the project.
Counterexample
A genuine binary alternative genuinely has only two options.
Distinction
A true binary alternative actually has only two options.
Effect on thought and perception
The term draws attention to and renders visible spaces of possibility that have been artificially narrowed. What previously appeared to be a unified process becomes perceptible as a structured relationship.
Resonance
Resonance arises when the false dilemma is not only named but experienced as a dynamic interplay between form, expectation, and effect.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „False dilemma“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-088-022. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-088-022The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. A verified modification date per entry is not yet available. Include your access date for precise references.