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A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently, it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey", originally identified by philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed." On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.
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User ID: 106
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Might as well see what inline html is like.
That's quite a lot of support!
Comment preview
If you're wondering what happened here: the inline HTML supported in "preview" is not the same as that actually supported when you post. Pity.
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Might as well see what inline html is like.
What is inline HTML like? Grotesque
That's quite a lot of support!
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