Dilemma
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A dilemma (Greek: δίλημμα "double proposition") is a problem offering two unrelated possibilities, neither of which is unambiguously acceptable or preferable. Time and or the perception of time strongly influencing the decision-making. The dilemma is sometimes used as a rhetorical device, in the form "you must accept either A, or B"; here A and B would be propositions each leading to some further conclusion. Applied incorrectly, it constitutes a false dichotomy, a fallacy.
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Related termsEdit
Several idioms describe dilemmas:
- "Damned if you do, damned if you don't"
- "Between Scylla and Charybdis"
- "Lesser of two evils"
- "Between a rock and a hard place", since both objects or metaphorical choices are rough.
- "Between the devil and the deep blue sea"
- "Out of the frying pan into the fire"
One in this position has been traditionally described as "being on the horns of a dilemma", neither horn being comfortable. This is sometimes more colorfully described as "Finding oneself impaled upon the horns of a dilemma", referring to the sharp points of a bull's horns, equally uncomfortable (and dangerous).
A dilemma with more than two forks is sometimes called a trilemma (3), tetralemma (4), or more generally a polylemma.
Use in logicEdit
In formal logic, the definition of a dilemma differs markedly from everyday usage. Two options are still present, but choosing between them is immaterial because they both imply the same conclusion. Symbolically expressed thus:
Which can be translated informally as "one (or both) of A or B is known to be true, but they both imply C, so regardless of the truth values of A and B we can conclude C." This is a rule of inference called Disjunction elimination.
There are also constructive dilemmas and destructive dilemmas.
Constructive dilemmasEdit
- 1. (If X, then Y) and (If W, then Z).
- 2. X or W.
- 3. Therefore, Y or Z.
Destructive dilemmasEdit
- 1. (If X, then Y) and (If W, then Z).
- 2. Not Y or not Z.
- 3. Therefore, not X or not W.
See alsoEdit
Look up dilemma in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Media related to Dilemmas at Wikimedia Commons