Complex question

Informal fallacies → Question-begging / premise

A complex question is one that already assumes something that might not be true, so that yes or no both get you in trouble. Answering at all seems to accept the hidden assumption. The trick is that the question is not neutral—it bakes in a claim that the respondent may reject. The right move is often to reject the question or to unpack and answer the parts separately.

Examples

  • Have you stopped cheating on tests?

  • When did you stop hitting your partner?

  • Why do you still support that failing policy?

  • How often do you drink too much?

  • Are you going to apologise for what you did?

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