Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[[Greek]] ''dichotomia'' ("διχοτομία") , from ''dichotomos'' - ''dikho''-‘in [[two]], apart’, -''tomia'' - ‘cutting,’ from temnein ‘to cut, incision, excision of an object

[[Greek]] ''dichotomia'' ("διχοτομία") , from ''dichotomos'' - ''dikho''-‘in [[two]], apart’, -''tomia'' - ‘cutting,’ from temnein ‘to cut, incision, excision of an object

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1610]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1610]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: a division into [[two]] especially mutually exclusive or [[contradictory]] groups or [[entities]] <the dichotomy between [[theory]] and [[practice]]>; also : the [[process]] or practice of making such a division <dichotomy of the population into two opposed classes>

*1: a division into [[two]] especially mutually exclusive or [[contradictory]] groups or [[entities]] <the dichotomy between [[theory]] and [[practice]]>; also : the [[process]] or practice of making such a division <dichotomy of the population into two opposed classes>

*jointly exhaustive: everything must belong to one part or the other, and

*jointly exhaustive: everything must belong to one part or the other, and

*mutually exclusive: nothing can belong simultaneously to both parts.

*mutually exclusive: nothing can belong simultaneously to both parts.

Such a partition is also frequently called a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartition bipartition].

Such a partition is also frequently called a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartition bipartition].

The two parts thus formed are [[complements]]. In [[logic]], the partitions are [[opposites]] if there exists a [[proposition]] such that it holds over one and not the other.

The two parts thus formed are [[complements]]. In [[logic]], the partitions are [[opposites]] if there exists a [[proposition]] such that it holds over one and not the other.

A ''false dichotomy'' is a logical [[fallacy]] consisting of a [[supposed]] dichotomy which fails one or both of the conditions: it is not jointly exhaustive and/or not mutually exclusive. In its most common form, two [[entities]] are presented as if they are exhaustive, when in fact other alternatives are possible. In some cases, they may be presented as if they are mutually exclusive although there is a broad middle ground (see also undistributed middle).

A ''false dichotomy'' is a logical [[fallacy]] consisting of a [[supposed]] dichotomy which fails one or both of the conditions: it is not jointly exhaustive and/or not mutually exclusive. In its most common form, two [[entities]] are presented as if they are exhaustive, when in fact other alternatives are possible. In some cases, they may be presented as if they are mutually exclusive although there is a broad middle ground (see also undistributed middle).

''Perceived Dichotomies'' are common in Western thought. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._P._Snow C. P. Snow] believes that Western society has become an [[argument]] [[culture]] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Cultures ''The Two Cultures'']). In ''The Argument Culture'' (1998), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Tannen Deborah Tannen] suggests that the [[dialogue]] of Western culture is characterized by a warlike atmosphere in which the winning side has [[truth]] (like a trophy). In such a [[dialogue]], the middle alternatives are virtually ignored.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichotomy]

''Perceived Dichotomies'' are common in Western thought. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._P._Snow C. P. Snow] believes that Western society has become an [[argument]] [[culture]] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Cultures ''The Two Cultures'']). In ''The Argument Culture'' (1998), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Tannen Deborah Tannen] suggests that the [[dialogue]] of Western culture is characterized by a warlike atmosphere in which the winning side has [[truth]] (like a trophy). In such a [[dialogue]], the middle alternatives are virtually ignored.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichotomy]

[[Category: Logic]]

[[Category: Logic]]