False equivalence
Also called: Both sides
Treating two things as equal because they share one feature.
How to spot it
Do the two things only look alike on one point, with a big difference in size or kind?
Example
“A parking ticket and a bank robbery are both breaking the law, so they're the same.”
How to answer it
Name the difference in size, kind or cost that the comparison ignores.
Related
- False dilemma: Presenting two options as if they were the only ones.
- False balance: Giving two positions equal space when the evidence strongly favours one.