[lit-ideas] Re: hypothetical?
- From: Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:21:59 -0800
Eric asks the J. L. Austin Society for advice:
Is the question
"May I ask a hypothetical question?"
itself a hypothetical question?
Opinion is divided. Some say that it is a simple question analogous to
'May I open the window?' Others would side with Eric (if they were
asked) when he asks
Doesn't that question above ask, in effect:
"If I were to ask a hypothetical question, would you be receptive to it?"
However, when the question beginning 'Doesn't..., above was put to a
vote at the general meeting, the majority sided with one member's
suggestion that the question beginning 'If I were to...' passes the Ann
Landers Test For Phatic Communication, insofar as it is intended to
elicit warm and fuzzy feelings in the auditor, rather than to elicit
empirically verifiable information about the auditor's actual
dispositions, and is thus of interest primarily to neo-Griceans.
So is it a performative statement/question?*
No.
______
Years ago, when walking home from work, I frequently encountered a lady
trying to beg money outside an OTB establishment along my route. Living
in NYC, one develops a sense of who to help or avoid.
Her begging spiel always began with, "May I ask you a question?" which
was intended to draw people into her subsequent request for money.
One day, I answered, "You already have." and walked on.
This is sometimes called 'street logic,' a relatively new area in
informal syllogistics.
Frank Bacon
Department of Clinical Semantics
Mutton College
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