Is there a difference between a false dichotomy and a false dilemma?

Question

The terms, "false dichotomy" and, "false dilemma" are used interchangeably.

I believe there is a difference between the two terms, but I could not find anything relating to my following argument.

A dichotomy is a choice between two options.
A dilemma is a choice between two unfavorable options.

Provided those two definitions, these would follow:

A false dichotomy is a false assertion that there are only two options.
A false dilemma is a false assertion that there are only two unfavorable options.

So I believe that a false dilemma falls under the category of a false dichotomy.
In other words, all false dilemmas are false dichotomies, but not all false dichotomies are false dilemmas.

I have two examples:

(1) You can either kill your mother or kill your father.
This is both a dichotomy and a dilemma, as there are two negative choices (providing that you would prefer not to kill your parents).
If there are alternative choices, then this is both a false dichotomy and a false dilemma.

(2) You can either be killed, or be eternally happy.
Clearly, this is not a dilemma, because the options are not both negative. (It is also a dichotomy because there are two options.)
If there are alternative choices, then this is a false dichotomy, but not a false dilemma.


These are my thoughts; I would like to know if anyone can confirm or refute this.

Answer 1

The answer is simple, really. A false dilemma pertains to events. Whereas the false dichotomy pertains vastly to the conception of something.



In your examples that you gave, the second one isn't a 'false dichotomy'. What you did was you labeled a dichotomy that had alternative options as a false dichotomy.. but this is not exactly a false dichotomy. A false dichotomy is essentially black and white thinking but to a degree which is fallacious(in first-order logic, 'black and white thinking' as it were, is actually necessary(see; law of the excluded middle)). The example you gave isn't a false dichotomy just because it has alternative options...It's that the alternative options be significant ones, and in this case they are not.



If I were to say, "Something is either black or white" this would attempt to negate the fact of grey.. and because grey is a significant alternative, that is, because the affirmation of the negation of its negation is found within the aforementioned statement analytically.. it would be a false dichotomy.



I hope that helps! Cheers~

Answer 2

I'm not certain how the two can be used interchangeably at all. The meaning of these terms are quite different.



A false dichotomy occurs when a person attempts to falsely characterize things within two categories (generally opposites). This can be done to objects, ideas, or whatever.



A false dilemma occurs where a person falsely attempts to create only two options (which are generally equally undesirable). A false dilemma is quite a bit more ethereal/abstract than a false dichotomy.

Answer 3

False Dichotomy Fallacy

Answer 4

False Dilemma Definition

Answer 5

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RE:

Is there a difference between a false dichotomy and a false dilemma?

The terms, "false dichotomy" and, "false dilemma" are used interchangeably.



I believe there is a difference between the two terms, but I could not find anything relating to my following argument.



A dichotomy is a choice between two options.

A dilemma is a choice between...