motte and bailey

名词 n.
中文释义

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. The predecessor of the European castle, having a raised earth mound (the motte) topped with a tower (or donjon), and a wooden ring fortification surrounding a courtyard (the bailey).
    — Should an inquiring stranger ask an Irish countryman if there were any "mottes" in the neighbourhood he might be met with unexpected but none the less unrestrained laughter, as in semi-slang the word has another meaning very far from that of a castle mound!
  2. A form of argument and an informal fallacy where an arguer conflates two similar positions, one modest and easier to defend (the "motte") and one much more controversial (the "bailey"), by advancing the controversial position, but when challenged, insisting that they are only advancing the more modest position. rhetoric

词形变化

mottes and baileys plural motte-and-bailey alternative

词源

(form of argument): Coined by philosopher Nicholas Shackel.
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