Trick question
A trick question is the special form of a rhetorical question , a more or less witty, but also intriguing question to a person who is supposed to give an answer that corresponds to the facts . However, this response requires overcoming considerable real external or internal logical contradictions. These difficulties can e.g. B. go back to significantly contradicting conditions in the question asked. The resolution and overcoming of these contradictions requires a strong emotional commitment on the part of the interlocutor. The inner source for overcoming contradicting situations is humor (e.g. based on strength of character ) .
The trick question is therefore asked in such a way that an inattentive answerer answers it incorrectly or contradicts himself .
This effect is achieved by providing or implying possible answers to the question, none of which apply. The questioner can use such a question to mislead the respondent into making the wrong statement ( Are you still hitting your wife? - correct answer (if applicable): I've never hit my wife. , Or: Your question is based on false premises . ) or to reveal one's lack of knowledge.
The problem with the answer is the dualisms implied by language. The German language obviously does not offer a fixed, general answer, since one tries to choose between the binary, implicit answer options or to guess affectively; binary, since one answer option apparently excludes the other. Such trick questions are also often found as koans . In Zen circles (as well as in hacker jargon ), however, a clever answer option has become established: Mu (with “yes or no?” This means “neither yes nor no” or “both yes and no”). This does not hinder the respondent's attention, as he does not have to formulate a linguistically appropriate answer sentence. The questioner simply has to correct his question.
From a linguistic point of view, the trick question is often a targeted use of presuppositions .
See also
literature
- Theodor Lipps: comedy and humor. 2nd edition 1922.
Web links
- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP) - Fallacy of many questions = complex question