LFotW: False Continuum

This is the idea that because there is no definitive demarcation line between two extremes, that the distinction between the extremes is not real or meaningful: There is a fuzzy line between cults and religion, therefore they are really the same thing. This fallacy is especially important to understand in the context of medicine; most human traits vary according to a Bell curve of variation. “Unhealthy” is often defined as being too far out to one extreme or the other. The false continuum logical fallacy is sometimes used to argue that these extremes are merely part of a continuum of variation, and therefore have no meaning or significance. However, this is like saying that “short” and “tall” have no meaning because human height is a continuum of variation. Blood pressure is a good example. We can meaningfully define high blood pressure because it correlates with increased risk of certain disease, such as heart attacks, even though high blood pressure is at the upper end of a continuum of variation.

In part this logical fallacy represents discomfort with the concept of a fuzzy line of demarcation between two extremes. But such fuzzy lines are more the rule than the exception in this complex world.

LFotW: False Dichotomy

This is a very important fallacy to recognize and is used quite often. This fallacy consists of arbitrarily reducing a set of many possibilities to only two. For example, evolution is not possible, therefore we must have been created (assumes these are the only two possibilities). Actually, this fallacy can apply to any premature reduction in the possible set of explanations for a phenomenon – not necessarily down to only two possibilities. UFO proponents, for example, will often analyze a sighting by saying the object was not a plane, not a balloon, and not celestial object, therefore it was a flying saucer. They are limiting the set of possibilities to a few easily dismissed choices, and the desired choice, while ignoring the many other possibilities.

This fallacy can also be used to oversimplify a continuum of variation to two black and white choices. For example, science and pseudoscience are not two discrete entities, but rather the methods and claims of all those who attempt to explain reality fall along a continuum from one extreme to the other.

Movie Review: V for Vendetta

Summary: Futuristic tale about fascist Great Britain and a masked guy named V and his goal to overthrow the government.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Review: Kind of a light/dark, comedy/action, comic book movie with a solid storyline. A good movie about Big Brother in the near future with some relevant ties to our current political state. Natalie Portman did an excellent job with her role.

Movie Review: Enchanted

Summary: Princess from Disney-style cartoon comes alive and has to find help in New York City.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10

Review: This was actually a pretty good movie. I was just expecting a silly, chick flick, but it was quite humorous and well done. Amy Adams did a fantastic job of being the spacey fairytale princess. It was over the top, but that was what they were going for. It did a good job of poking fun at all the quirky features of Disney fairy tales.