Final answer:
The situation with two equally unfavorable choices is called a dilemma, illustrated by the Prisoner's Dilemma and political disagreements like the debate over the death penalty. It is important to distinguish from a false dichotomy, which is a fallacy that reduces options to only two choices when more may exist. Option B is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem described, which seems to have two equally unfavorable choices, is called a dilemma. This occurs often in situations where individuals or groups have to make a choice between two or more options, each of which has some negative aspect.
A classic example is the Prisoner's Dilemma, where two individuals must decide whether to cooperate with each other or act in their own self-interest, often leading to worse outcomes for both when they do not cooperate. An example that illustrates political decisions is when two parties are divided and cannot find a compromise on an issue, such as the death penalty, leading to a scenario where no matter the choice, one party will be dissatisfied.
A false dichotomy, also known as a false dilemma, is an informal fallacy where only two options are considered, without considering that other possibilities may exist. This can be problematic as it narrows down the choices to two, often leading to a forced decision between options that may not fully reflect the reality of the situation.