Answer Erosion

Answer Erosion (noun)

A logical fallacy in which a person repeatedly asks increasingly difficult or detailed questions to undermine the validity of earlier correct answers. The goal is to gradually discredit the original responses, despite them being accurate, by introducing new and higher standards of inquiry that were not present when the answers were first given. This tactic can also be used to distract from or avoid addressing the original point being contested.

Example:
Person A: "The capital of France is Paris."
Person B: "But what’s the population of Paris? Can you tell me the exact area of Paris? What about the history of Paris in the 18th century?"
Person A: "Well, I didn’t give all those details, but the answer is still correct."
Person B: "Ah, but you didn’t really know the full story, did you?"

In this example, Person B uses Answer Erosion not only to undermine Person A's correct response by raising the bar with more complex questions but also to shift the focus away from the original, simple fact (the capital of France), effectively distracting from the main point.

by ApplesPotatoGardner December 24, 2024

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