Can you outsmart the fallacy that divided a nation? - Elizabeth Cox episode artwork

EPISODE · May 25, 2026 · 6 MIN

Can you outsmart the fallacy that divided a nation? - Elizabeth Cox

from TED-Ed · host TED-Ed

Explore the middle ground fallacy, which assumes that the truth is always a compromise between two extreme opposing positions.--It’s 1819. The US is preparing to make Missouri and Maine new states. One representative insists that slavery shouldn’t be allowed in any new state. Another believes it should be a state’s right to choose. A compromise is proposed: slavery will be allowed in Missouri and prohibited in Maine. Can you spot the problem with this compromise? Elizabeth Cox explores the middle ground fallacy. Lesson by Elizabeth Cox, directed by TOGETHER.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-outsmart-the-fallacy-that-divided-a-nation-elizabeth-coxDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-outsmart-the-fallacy-that-divided-a-nation-elizabeth-cox#digdeeperAnimator's website: https://wearetogether.ca----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Devin Harris, Pavel Zalevskiy, Karen Goepen-Wee, Filip Dabrowski, Barbara Smalley, Megan Douglas, Tim Leistikow, Ka-Hei Law, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Mark Morris, Misaki Sato, EdoKun, Boytsov Ilya, SookKwan Loong, Bev Millar, Lex Azevedo, Noa Shore, Michael Aquilina, Jason A Saslow, Dawn Jordan, Prasanth Mathialagan, Samuel Doerle, David Rosario, Dominik Kugelmann - they-them, Siamak H, Ryohky Araya, Mayank Kaul, Christophe Dessalles, Heather Slater, Sandra Tersluisen, Zhexi Shan, Bárbara Nazaré, Andrea Feliz, Victor E Karhel, Sydney Evans, Latora Slydell, Noel Situ, emily lam, Sid, Kent Logan, Alexandra Panzer, John Hellmann, Poompak Meephian, Chuck Wofford, Daniel Erickson, frank goto, Jayson Hauschild, J D Wallace, Marq Short, Chen Jun Xiang and Adam Pagan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the middle ground fallacy, which assumes that the truth is always a compromise between two extreme opposing positions.--It’s 1819. The US is preparing to make Missouri and Maine new states. One representative insists that slavery shouldn’t be allowed in any new state. Another believes it should be a state’s right to choose. A compromise is proposed: slavery will be allowed in Missouri and prohibited in Maine. Can you spot the problem with this compromise? Elizabeth Cox explores the middle ground fallacy. Lesson by Elizabeth Cox, directed by TOGETHER.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-outsmart-the-fallacy-that-divided-a-nation-elizabeth-coxDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-outsmart-the-fallacy-that-divided-a-nation-elizabeth-cox#digdeeperAnimator's website: https://wearetogether.ca----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Devin Harris, Pavel Zalevskiy, Karen Goepen-Wee, Filip Dabrowski, Barbara Smalley, Megan Douglas, Tim Leistikow, Ka-Hei Law, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Mark Morris, Misaki Sato, EdoKun, Boytsov Ilya, SookKwan Loong, Bev Millar, Lex Azevedo, Noa Shore, Michael Aquilina, Jason A Saslow, Dawn Jordan, Prasanth Mathialagan, Samuel Doerle, David Rosario, Dominik Kugelmann - they-them, Siamak H, Ryohky Araya, Mayank Kaul, Christophe Dessalles, Heather Slater, Sandra Tersluisen, Zhexi Shan, Bárbara Nazaré, Andrea Feliz, Victor E Karhel, Sydney Evans, Latora Slydell, Noel Situ, emily lam, Sid, Kent Logan, Alexandra Panzer, John Hellmann, Poompak Meephian, Chuck Wofford, Daniel Erickson, frank goto, Jayson Hauschild, J D Wallace, Marq Short, Chen Jun Xiang and Adam Pagan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Can you outsmart the fallacy that divided a nation? - Elizabeth Cox

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This episode was published on May 25, 2026.

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Explore the middle ground fallacy, which assumes that the truth is always a compromise between two extreme opposing positions.--It’s 1819. The US is preparing to make Missouri and Maine new states. One representative insists that slavery shouldn’t...

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