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False equivalence

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This article is about the logical fallacy. For the media term, see False balance.
Not to be confused with argument to moderation, also known as false equivalence, a fallacy asserting that the truth is between two extremes.
False equivalence
  • Jesus Christ
    Jesus Christ
  • Adolf Hitler
    Adolf Hitler
They both have mustaches, but that does not make them the same

False equivalence is a logical fallacy in which an equivalence is drawn between two subjects based on flawed or false reasoning. This fallacy is categorized as a fallacy of inconsistency.[1] Colloquially, a false equivalence is often called "comparing apples and oranges."

Characteristics

This fallacy is committed when one shared trait between two subjects is assumed to show equivalence, especially in order of magnitude, when equivalence is not necessarily the logical result.[2] False equivalence is a common result when an anecdotal similarity is pointed out as equal, but the claim of equivalence does not bear scrutiny because the similarity is based on oversimplification or ignorance of additional factors. The pattern of the fallacy is often as such:

If A is the set of C and D, and B is the set of D and E, then since they both contain D, A and B are equal.

"D" is not required to exist in both sets; only a passing similarity is required to cause this fallacy to be used.[3]

False equivalence arguments are often used in journalism[4][5] and in politics, where flaws of one politician may be compared to flaws of a wholly different nature of another.[6]

Examples

Orders of magnitudes
  • Oil stain
    Oil stain
  • Oil spill
    Oil spill

The following statements are examples of false equivalence:[3]

The "false equivalence" is the comparison between things differing by many orders of magnitude:[3] Deepwater Horizon spilled 210 million US gal (790 million L) of oil;[7] one's neighbor might spill perhaps 1 US pt (0.47 L).
The "false equivalence" is in an oversimplification[3] of the factors that make an animal a suitable pet.[10]
The comparison between civil unrest and an insurrection is a "false equivalence," because while the two events share characteristics, other important factors are oversimplified or ignored.[3] There is no "equivalence" as the factors that caused the events, and the results are different.[12]
According to Judge Tanya Chutkan, "To compare the actions of people protesting, mostly peacefully, for civil rights to those of a violent mob seeking to take over the Congress is false equivalence and ignores the very real damage the January 6 riot poses to the foundation of our democracy."[12]

Negative causes

Thomas Patterson of the Shorenstein Center for Media, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard University wrote about the false equivalency used by the media during the 2016 United States presidential election:

[F]alse equivalencies are developing on a grand scale as a result of relentlessly negative news. If everything and everyone is portrayed negatively, there’s a leveling effect that opens the door to charlatans. The press historically has helped citizens recognize the difference between the earnest politician and the pretender. Today’s news coverage blurs the distinction.[13]

See also

Wikiquote has quotations related to False equivalence.

References

  1. ^ Phillips, Harry; Bostian, Patricia (2014). The Purposeful Argument: A Practical Guide, Brief Edition (Second ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 129. ISBN 9781285982847.
  2. ^ "False Equivalence". Truly Fallacious. August 16, 2013. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bennett, Robert "Bo". "False Equivalence". logically fallacious. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Krugman, Paul (September 16, 2016). "The Falsity of False Equivalence". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  5. ^ Phillips, Ari (August 26, 2016). "Welcome to the maddening world of false equivalence journalism". Fusion. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  6. ^ Buchanan, Neil H. (June 22, 2016). "The False Equivalence of Clinton and Trump's Negatives". Newsweek. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  7. ^ On Scene Coordinator Report on Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (PDF) (Report). September 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  8. ^ Salles, L. O. (1992). "Felid phylogenetics: extant taxa and skull morphology (Felidae, Aeluroidea)" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (3047). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  9. ^ "Cat or Lion: Differences Between Wild and Domestic Cats". one Tree Veterinary Medical Center. February 16, 2017.
  10. ^ "Distinguishing Cougars, Bobcats, and Domestic Cats". Department of Natural Resources. michigan.gov.
  11. ^ Gerstein, Josh; Cheney, Kyle (November 5, 2021). "Judge rejects comparison between Jan. 6 riot and George Floyd unrest". Politico.
  12. ^ a b Brantley-Jones, Kiara (January 21, 2021). "False equivalency between Black Lives Matter and Capitol siege: Experts, advocates". ABC News.
  13. ^ Thomas E. Patterson (December 7, 2016). "News Coverage of the 2016 General Election: How the Press Failed the Voters". Shorenstein Center.

Further reading

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