This fallacy occurs when a question is phrased in such a way that it contains a hidden assumption or claim, forcing the respondent to accept that assumption regardless of whether they answer “yes” or “no.”
Definition:
A loaded question is a reasoning error in which the question covertly embeds a contentious assumption or judgment. Such questions are designed so that the respondent is placed within the questioner’s intended frame without the opportunity to reject or examine the assumption.
Typical structure of this fallacy:
1. A question is asked that contains a contentious assumption.
2. Any direct answer (yes/no or similar) implies acceptance of that assumption.
Examples from real life:
1. Politics:
“Are you still wasting public funds?”
Here, it should be noted that even if the person has never wasted funds, any direct answer implies accepting the accusation.
2. Media:
“When are you going to admit your corruption?”
Here, it should be noted that the question presumes the person is corrupt, even if this has not been proven.
3. Personal relationships:
“Do you still lie to your friends?”
Here, it should be noted that this question assumes the person has lied before, even if they have not.
4. Workplace:
“Why did you decide to abandon the project?”
Here, it should be noted that this question presumes the person has in fact abandoned the project, without examining the reasons or facts.
Why is this fallacy dangerous?
● It places the respondent in a defensive and constrained position.
● It prevents the examination or rejection of the hidden assumption.
● It can be used to damage credibility or control the direction of the conversation.
How can we recognise and respond to it?
Ask:
– Does the question contain an assumption that needs to be addressed first?
– Could the question be rephrased in a neutral way?
A suitable response might be: “Before I answer the question, we need to clarify whether its assumption is correct.”
Conclusion:
The loaded question fallacy, by concealing a contentious assumption within the form of a question, places the respondent in the unintended position of accepting it. To counter this fallacy, the assumption must be made explicit and its validity examined before answering.