26 How to Win Every Argument
taking on a case, Protagoras sued him. The prosecution was
simple:
If the court decides for me, it says he must pay. If it decides for him, he
wins his first case and must therefore pay me. Since it must decide for me
or for him, I must receive my money.The youth had been a good student, however, and presented
the following defence:
On the contrary. If the court decides for me, it says I need not pay. If it
decides for Protagoras, then I still have not won my first case, and need
not pay. Since it must decide for me or for him, either way I need not pay.
(The judge had a nervous breakdown and adjourned the case inde-
finitely. He thereby proved the disjuncts false, and escaped between
the horns of both dilemmas.)The fallacy in the bogus dilemma consists of presenting false
consequences or a false choice, and it will be of most use to you
in situations where decisions which you oppose are being con-
templated. Quickly you step in, pointing out that one of two
things will happen, and that bad results will follow either way:
If we allow this hostel for problem teenagers to be set up in our area,
either it will be empty or it will be full. If it is empty it will be a useless
waste of money; and if it is full it will bring in more trouble-makers than
the area can cope with. Reluctantly, therefore...
(Cross your fingers and hope there are no students of Protagoras on
the committee.)