Complex Question
A complex question embeds an unestablished assumption. Answering it on its own terms may concede that assumption, so a respondent can challenge the premise before answering.
THE IDEA
The complex question is not an argument; it is a particular type of question. More specifically, it is a loaded question; i.e., a question with a built-in assumption. The complex question can often throw off the listener by forcing him or her to answer a flawed question.
Examples:
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Lawyer to defendant: Where did you hide the murder weapon? (This assumes the defendant knows where the weapon is and hid it.)
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When did you stop beating your wife? (This assumes the person being questioned did beat their wife.)
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When are you going to have children? (This assumes the individual has decided to have children.)
How to respond:
The best response to these types of questions is not simply to answer the question as it has been posed. Rather, one should bring to light that the question has built-in assumptions, lest one fall into the trap set by the questioner.
When to use it
Detecting and defusing manipulation tactics during legal cross-examinations or political debates.
Avoiding unintentional bias when designing survey questions or conducting interviews.
Identifying unfair assumptions in personal relationship conflicts ('Why did you always ignore my calls?').
Teaching critical thinking and media literacy to help students spot loaded premises in advertising and discourse.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Where did you hide the murder weapon?
A lawyer asks a defendant: 'Where did you hide the murder weapon?' The question assumes the defendant hid the weapon and knows its location. The defendant can challenge that premise rather than supply a place.
When did you stop beating your wife?
A classic example of a complex question. It assumes the subject used to beat their wife. Answering 'I never stopped' or 'Last year' both accept the underlying premise.
Why did you lie about drinking tonight?
This question assumes the person drank and then lied about it. If those claims have not been established, asking for a motive skips the dispute over whether either event happened.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Recall a recent heated discussion. Did either you or the other person use a loaded question? How did it affect the conversation?
Why is the 'complex question' categorized as a fallacy if it isn't technically an argument?
How can you politely point out a complex question without escalating a conflict?
Often confused with
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Informal Logical Fallacies A Brief Guide