Questions in Detouring Order

Description

Or you may put questions in an order different from that which the conclusion to be drawn from them requires, and transpose them, so as not to let him know at what you are aiming. He can then take no precautions. You may also use his answers for different or even opposite conclusions, according to their character. This is akin to the trick of masking your procedure.

Discussion

Questions make people think. They usually create a focus and a container for the subject at hand. When you have asked one question, the other person will naturally expect you to ask further questions in the same line of thinking.

When your subsequent questions do not logically follow the previous questions, then this will cause confusion, in which the other person is likely to accept much of what you say without challenge, as they have lost their logical footing.

'Questions in Detouring Order' is the ninth of Schopenhauer's stratagems.

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Questions in Detouring Order

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Quick links

Disciplines

Techniques

Principles

Explanations

Theories

And