motte and bailey

You defended the modest claim and then went back to the bold one.

Wrong: “This changes everything.” “Evidence?” “I’m only saying it’s interesting.” (later) “As I said, it changes everything.”

Right: “Which claim are you defending? Let’s settle that one.”

Two claims are being swapped: the bold one to assert, the safe one to defend.

Named for a castle design: the bailey is the valuable, hard-to-defend courtyard; the motte is the fortified mound you retreat to when attacked. The move is to occupy the bailey—the strong, interesting claim—and retreat to the motte when challenged, then wander back out once the challenger leaves.

How to answer it: pin the claim down. Get it stated in one sentence, agree that’s the claim, and hold it there.

Now go pin the claim down.