Motte and bailey
Also called: Retreating to a safer claim
Defending a bold claim by falling back to a modest one when challenged, then returning to the bold one.
How to spot it
Does the claim shrink under pressure and grow back later?
Example
“Everyone should give up cars!” “I just meant people should walk more sometimes.” (Later:) “As I said, give up cars.”
How to answer it
Ask which claim they are defending, and hold them to it.
Related
- Moving the goalposts: Changing what would count as proof after the earlier standard has been met.
- Equivocation: Using a word in two different senses within one argument.