Tactic of Argument by Rhetorical Question

The Tactic of Argument by Rhetorical Question occurs when a question is asked, but an answer isn’t expected. The question is asked to make a statement rather than to learn anything. Often, this tactic is used by asking a question and then answering it. Otherwise, the tactic is used to create an impression of a certain answer being obvious when that answer is not obvious.

Examples of the Tactic of Argument by Rhetorical Question

Bill Nye arguing against Creation science: “. . .  is that really reasonable?”  “. . . which I think is pretty reasonable” “Is that reasonable?” “Is it reasonable that Noah . . .” “. . . this would be a reasonable place . . .”  “. . . it’s reasonable to say . . .” “. . . Adolphe Quetele, who remarked first about the reasonable man. Is it reasonable that we have ice older by a hundred than you claim the Earth is?” “. . . That seems a much more reasonable explanation . . .” “So it’s reasonable to me that . . .” “. . . I, as a reasonable man,” “. . . it’s very reasonable perhaps to you that Noah had super powers . . .” “. . . to me it’s just not reasonable.” “And it’s just not reasonable to me . . . “ “It’s just not reasonable to me . . .“ “. . . and isn’t it reasonable that . . .” “. . . evidence for me at least, as a reasonable man, is overwhelming . . .”

Bill's implication is that Ken Ham was not being reasonable while Bill was being reasonable. However, it is unreasonable to claim to be reasonable while using fallacies and tactics such as this. And it is unreasonable to imply that any proposition is unreasonable without providing proof that is is unreasonable. Often, Bill did provide fallacies as proof, but that is unreasonable as well.