The False Dichotomies Of COVID-19

There are very few things that we can sum up with a yes/no answer

Pictured: Actually pretty rare. Source: Pexels

Discussions about science have taken on a frantic edge this year. Where once we could have a fun argument about the pros and cons of a headline, safe in the knowledge that at most it would impact how many walnuts people thought they should eat, in 2020 even the most humdrum of conversations have taken on a darker tone.

This is, perhaps, unsurprising given that we’re dealing with a global pandemic. Bad science costs lives when we’re talking about COVID-19.

Most stock photos for “bad science” are of astronomy, which I think is very rude. Source: Pexels

And one thing that comes with such acrimonious disputes that is both quintessentially human and very silly is a very simple logical flaw: the false dichotomy. Whether it’s in an argument about masks, or a discussion about the economy, the false dichotomies of COVID-19 are both endless and endlessly frustrating to anyone who values nuance.

So what is a false dichotomy? What should you watch out for in coronavirus arguments?

Let me explain.

Yes Or No Or Maybe