Julian Majano & Carlos Perez

0 Period

Definition:

Requires absolutes
that do not allow for
intermediate cases.

Imagery of Either/Or Fallacy

Imagery of Either/Or Fallacy

Example #1
Youre either with us or against us.
-

George
W.
Bush

Example #2
Either we ask the wealthiest Americans
to pay their fair share in taxes, or were
going to have to ask seniors to pay more
for Medicare.
- Barack Obama.

Example #3
You want to go to college, or
work at McDonalds?

-every teacher ever

Fallacy Analysis
Within these first two examples, two well known presidential figures use a similar fallacy in order to persuade
the American people towards their political views. After the 9/11 bombing, President Bush addresses the question of
being With us or against us, arguing that you are either with the Americans or you are an enemy to the country. Of
course there are more than two options that can be given instead of the two that were listed. Bush is trying to persuade
the country into thinking that only two options exist, and if you're not for our country, youre a terrorist. While George
Bush uses this fallacy to rally the American people under his control, Obama takes a different approach in using this
fallacy, as a choice of either fair share, or our liberties. In a much in depth look, Obama has given the American people
two choices of either bringing what is right between these economic classes, having more taxes, or a necessity of the
elderlys medical plan. Obama uses this tactic as a way of forcing the American people to think twice of what they are
asking. Of course everybody wants to help their grandparents in need, but at what cost if they cant even afford it?
Obamas persuasion of calming the American people, and forcing this ultimatum within the American people: which
option is more important to them. Speaking about the American people, our upcoming generation of young teens are
being pushed to strive towards a successful future. With this, however; comes a common fallacy of either going to
college and being whatever you want to be, or stuck flipping burgers for minimum wage. This fallacy pushes the youth,
giving them a mentality of being a hero, or a zero with no middle ground, forcing them to work much harder. Overall,
this use of a fallacy is meant to rally, lead, encourage, push, destroy, or persuade the the audience with an ultimatum, a
goal that appears to have only two options, which is used effectively by these two figures.

Works Cited
https://saturner93.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/contradiction.jpg
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http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/BushAxisOfEvil2002.jpg
"Logical Fallacies Explained With Fun Animal Illustrations: An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments." Visual News. N.p., n.d. Web.
17 Mar. 2015.http://cdn.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Illustrated-book-of-bad-arguments-12-600x542.jpgb
Vinocur, John. "U.S. Question:with Us, or against Us?: Issue in Sharp Focus."Nytimes. The New York Times,
6 Feb. 2003. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/06/news/06iht-assess_ed3__0.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mario-almonte/barack-obama-presidency_b_4454334.html
http://americanvision.org/11793/biblical-logic-and-theonomy-vs-autonomy/
http://magoosh.com/gre/files/2013/07/stanford_logo.png
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/759/806/0ba.png