13. THE DILEMMA.
The majority of us are acquainted with the dilemma as related to the activities of life. One is in a dilemma when there are two courses open to him but neither is particularly enticing. One is placed in a dilemma when he is forced to choose the lesser of two evils. For example, one may, without the proper equipment, be overtaken by a heavy rain storm; he seeks the shelter of a wayside shed; the rain continues so that he is forced either to miss his train, or to endure the discomfort of a drenching. Thus the logical dilemma limits one to a choice between alternatives, either one of which might well be avoided.
Definition.
The dilemma is a syllogism in which the major premise consists of two or more hypothetical propositions, while the minor premise is a disjunctive proposition.
It being a combination of hypothetical and disjunctive propositions the dilemma is sometimes appropriately referred to as the “hypothetico-disjunctive” argument. Theorder of the premises is indifferent, yet it seems to be more natural to use the hypothetical first; thus the definition.