Dikotomisia

Dikotomisia is a term used to describe the state or practice of interpreting information, events, or issues as dichotomies—dividing reality into two mutually exclusive options. Etymology combines Greek roots di- 'two' and kotomos 'cut' with the suffix -sia denoting a process or state. The coinage is used in philosophy, cognitive science, media studies, and critical theory to label a cognitive or communicative habit rather than a fixed category of phenomena. In everyday language, dikotomisia manifests as binary thinking, the tendency to frame situations as two opposed sides.

Common targets include moral judgments (good versus evil), political identities (us versus them), and causal explanations (nature versus nurture). In science and policy, it can also express as a false dichotomy, discounting intermediate states or gradations. Proponents argue that a binary frame can simplify communication and enable rapid decisions in uncertain conditions. Critics contend that it oversimplifies, obscures nuance, and polarizes debates, potentially sustaining stereotyping and ideological rigidity.

Scholars often discuss dikotomisia in relation to the broader concept of binary thinking and the false dilemma. Strategies to mitigate it include explicitly acknowledging continua, using probabilistic or spectrum-based language, and adopting integrative frameworks that accommodate multiple factors and degrees.

See also: dichotomy, binary thinking, false dilemma, continuum.