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| == More Examples == | == More Examples == | ||
| * What if there were no such thing as a hypothetical question? | * What if there were no such thing as a hypothetical question? | ||
| * '''How much gas would a woodchuck pass if a woodchuck had an ass?'''* What if someone had a knife to cut us out of this hypothetical situation? | * '''How much gas would a woodchuck pass if a woodchuck had an ass?''' | ||
| * What if someone had a knife to cut us out of this hypothetical situation? | |||
| * Which would you rather fight, one queen-size mattress or two single-size mattresses? | * Which would you rather fight, one queen-size mattress or two single-size mattresses? | ||
Revision as of 00:07, 6 November 2007
A hypothetical question is one that is answered only in terms of validity, not soundness. Thus the question is designed to make a number of assumptions, and be answered as if those assumptions are true.
For example, a person may ask: Would you eat the moon, if it was made of barbecue spare ribs? This question presupposes that the moon could be made of barbecue spare ribs, and asks only whether or not you would eat it. An objection based upon the composition of the moon is not an appropriate answer for the question, as that is given to be decided. Only answers such as yes, no or depends on what kind of sauce is available would be valid answers for this hypothetical question.
However, a hypothetical question need not be patently absurd. One of the most famous hypothetical questions is the one asked of Michael Dukakis in a 1988 presidential debate: "Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?"
More Examples
- What if there were no such thing as a hypothetical question?
- How much gas would a woodchuck pass if a woodchuck had an ass?
- What if someone had a knife to cut us out of this hypothetical situation?
- Which would you rather fight, one queen-size mattress or two single-size mattresses?