Why are two things, let’s say the answers to a question, said to be mutually exclusive if there is no way both true at the same time? For instance, a number can only be even or odd, not both at the same time, excluding a third possible answer. “Diptomy” refers to mutually exclusive alternatives, or simply alternatives that are contradictory, opposed or strongly different. Are there examples of mutually exclusive alternatives (the

• dichotomy between reason and passion is
• considered the same).