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Many Questions Fallacy: Difference between revisions

Many Questions Fallacy (view source)

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* Demanding a Simple Answer to a Complex Question
 
The interrogative version of [[Begging the Question]], the [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Many_questions:Many questions|Many Questions Fallacy]] occurs where a question is asked that assumes the answer to one or more additional questions, and a demand is made that it be answered without qualifiers. The classic example is "have you stopped beating your wife? Answer Yes or No!" -- The question assumes a positive answer to an unstated second question ("have you ever beaten your wife?"); as a result, if you answer "Yes" you are admitting that you ''used to'' beat her, but if you answer "No" you are admitting that you ''still'' beat her. A qualified answer such as "I haven't stopped because I never did." is not accepted.
 
{{examples|Examples:}}
* Many [[Logic Bomb|Logic Bombs]] require such a fallacy; for example, the [[Master Computer]] will be obliged by its programming to give only a yes or no answer to a question like "I always lie, and this is the truth, am I telling the truth?" It's impossible to give a yes or no answer to this question that is correct, but the [[Master Computer]] will not be allowed to either simply point out that the question cannot be answered, or to note it is being obliged to assume a positive answer to "do you always lie?"
** Sadly, that "[[Logic Bomb]]" can be answered easily; no. You don't always lie, but you do sometimes lie.
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