What is an Alternative Question?
An alternative question, more commonly known as a loaded question or fallacy of presupposition, is a question that contains a contentious and unjustified assumption. By answering the question, the respondent implicitly accepts the truth of that assumption, even if it’s false.
Key Concepts
- Hidden Assumption: The core of the fallacy lies in an unstated premise embedded within the question.
- False Dichotomy: Often, it presents only two options, both of which are undesirable or based on the same faulty premise.
- Coercion: It can be used to pressure someone into admitting something they don’t believe or agree with.
Deep Dive
The structure typically looks like this: “Have you stopped [doing something bad]?” If you answer “yes,” you admit you used to do it. If you answer “no,” you admit you are still doing it. The question forces an admission of guilt or wrongdoing, regardless of the answer.
Consider the question: “Is the government’s new policy a disaster or merely ineffective?” This presupposes the policy is already problematic, forcing you to choose between two negative characterizations.
Applications and Examples
This fallacy is frequently encountered in:
- Political debates
- Legal cross-examinations
- Everyday arguments
Example: “How much longer will you continue to discriminate against minority groups?”
Challenges and Misconceptions
The challenge lies in recognizing the embedded assumption. People may answer without realizing they’ve accepted the premise. It’s crucial to identify the presupposition before responding.
A common misconception is that any question with two options is a loaded question. This is not true; only questions containing an unjustified or contentious assumption are fallacious.
FAQs
Q: How can I avoid answering a loaded question?
A: You can directly address the presupposition. For example, instead of answering “Have you stopped cheating on tests?”, you could say, “I have never cheated on tests.”
Q: Is “Would you prefer option A or option B?” a loaded question?
A: Not necessarily. It depends on whether the options presented are fair and if there’s an implicit, unjustified assumption about the situation.