A Morton's fork is a type of
false dilemma in which contradictory observations lead to the same conclusion. It is said to have originated with the rationalising of a
benevolence by the 15th century English prelate
John Morton.
The earliest known use of the term dates from the mid-19th century and the only known earlier mention is a claim by
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626), also known as Lord Verulam, was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England. Bacon led the advancement of both ...
of an extant tradition.
Dilemma
Under
Henry VII, John Morton was made archbishop of Canterbury in 1486 and Lord Chancellor in 1487. He rationalised requiring the payment of a benevolence (tax) to King Henry by reasoning that someone living modestly must be saving money, and therefore could afford the benevolence, whereas someone living extravagantly was obviously rich, and therefore could also afford the benevolence.
''Morton's Fork'' may have been invented by another of Henry's supporters,
Richard Foxe
Richard Foxe (sometimes Richard Fox) ( 1448 – 5 October 1528) was an English churchman, the founder of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was successively Bishop of Exeter, Bath and Wells, Durham, and Winchester, and became also Lo ...
.
[S. B. Chrimes, ''Henry VII'', p. 203.]
Other uses
"
Morton's fork coup" is a manoeuvre in the game of
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...
that uses the principle of Morton's fork.
[Gray, Robert. ]The Bridge World
''The Bridge World'' (TBW), the oldest continuously published magazine about contract bridge, was founded in 1929 by Ely Culbertson. It has since been regarded as the game's principal journal, publicizing technical advances in bidding and the pla ...
, March 1973
See also
*
Hobson's choice
*
''Sophie's Choice''
References
{{Decision theory paradoxes
Dilemmas
Logic
Decision-making paradoxes