Tactic of Demanding Impossible Condition

The Tactic of Demanding Impossible Condition occurs when a false impression of open-mindedness is portrayed while demanding impossible conditions to either prove or disprove a proposition. “My mind is open, just meet my impossible conditions and stop being so closed-minded.” This is often accompanied by an argument from ignorance. “I can easily be convinced. Simply supply this impossible and irrelevant evidence or else it proves that I am right and you are wrong.” This is generally a dishonest negotiation tactic and usually involves playing to the crowd. The impossible conditions can be conditions of an agreement or any other conditions.

Examples of the Tactic of Demanding Impossible Condition

Bill Nye, when arguing against Creation science, said that he would change his mind on the Big-Bang-Billions-of-Years-No-Flood-Molecules-to-Man story if certain conditions were met.

When he laid out his conditions, they were filled with many fallacies from outright lies to red herrings.