Abstract
This essay addresses the establishment of a social false dilemma in the form of the socially-constructed categories of liberals and conservatives. The illogical positioning of only two options for solving a problem reduces an audience’s ability for developing creative solutions. The dichotomous nature of this political positioning undercuts critical thought through politicians’ usage of entrenched either-or thinking. In turn, the people struggle with a deliberative process that is underscored by an acceptance of a false dilemma. In particular, this essay focuses on an American dichotomous political climate by acknowledging the existence of the dichotomy, the promotion of Dissoi Logoi to avoid the false dilemma, and the repercussions of compromised deliberative functions of democracy.
Highlights
The permeation of dichotomous identities into popular culture begs us to consider the appropriateness of such identities
Politicians advocating for the false dilemma may cast aside appeals to issue resolution in favor of stoking identities that solidify around division from the opposition
Dialogic deliberation allows for politicians to encourage the rhetorical fantasy of the social dichotomy to take shape
Summary
The permeation of dichotomous identities into popular culture begs us to consider the appropriateness of such identities. While the anonymous author of Dissoi Logoi promotes the appreciation of multiple viewpoints, the opposite seems to happen when politicians reinforce entrenched identities. While oppositional political parties necessarily exist to ensure competing ideas for a healthy democracy, a social problem arises when politicians stress the importance of identities over the outcome of deliberative action. When referencing informal dialogic deliberation, Kim and Kim (2008) state: “Everyday political talk practically as well as logically precedes formal and instrumental deliberation” (Kim, Kim 2008, 53) This is not the case when politicians present illogical arguments promoting a social false dilemma. Whereas a dichotomy between a liberal or conservative perspective is appropriate when gauging individuals’ stances on various social issues, a problem arises when this dichotomy does not pertain to an issue in question, instead, the dichotomy pertains to a generalization of a liberal or conservative identity
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