False Equivalence
Argument to Moderation · False Compromise · Argument from Middle Ground · Equidistance Fallacy · Golden Mean Fallacy
An informal fallacy which asserts that the truth of an argument must be found as a compromise between two opposite positions.
EverydayConcepts.io
Origin
The fallacy emerged from misinterpretations of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (c. 350 BCE), where he described virtue as a mean between extremes. Aristotle explicitly warned against assuming moderation in all things. The "golden mean" concept itself predates Aristotle—"Nothing in excess" was carved at Delphi. As a formal rhetorical fallacy, it gained recognition in modern logic and critical thinking curricula, warning against assuming compromise equals truth.
Updated February 22, 2026