Dichotomy - Comments

From LoveToKnow 1911

This article's example of humanity being divided into two groups, one comprised of white men and one of non-white men, makes the fallacious assumption that skin color is the prime differentiation between races of human beings. Simply considering skin coloring alone, rejecting considerations beyond the observational capability of 1911 scientists, one would have to define the threshold of "whiteness" to make such a differentiation, since even among Caucasians, skin color varies from pale white to shades of pink, orange, tan or other colors.

Later, the article seems to contradict its own example of human dichotomy based on skin color by introducing the "principle of contradiction." In practice, there are few if any examples of pure dichotomy in nature. Perhaps a better example of the principle of dichotomy would come from simple mathematics. On the number line, three kinds of values exist: positive, negative, and zero. Since zero exists only in theory, we might describe the totality of numerical values as a dichotomy of positive values versus negative values.

Thus, the principle of dichotomy is only applicable in theory, and in philosophical arguments. Calling it a "technical term of logical division" elevates its status beyond any practical application.

The above argument is the original composition of: James L. Thompson; jlthomp@gmail.com