Hypothetical questions deal with possible events and are used in rhetoric, public communications, and everyday conversation. They should not be confused with rhetorical questions. Hypothetical questions can influence people and have legal and scientific applications. Thought experiments are used in theoretical physics to gain insights and advance knowledge.
A hypothetical question is one that deals with events that could possibly happen, rather than what did or did not actually happen. To narrow down the number of possible answers, the questioner usually sets imaginary parameters, such as “What if the sun goes out?” This is often described as a hypothetical situation. A person asking a hypothetical question may be seeking, or claiming to be seeking, an impartial answer. The usual goal is to imagine the most likely scenario or scenarios that could occur in a given hypothetical situation.
Hypothetical questions are used frequently in rhetoric and public communications, as well as in everyday conversation. They should not be confused with rhetorical questions, which are questions that have no expected answer. You are expected to answer hypothetical questions, but the answer has no bearing on real events, at least in theory. In casual conversation, the person asking a hypothetical question might actually be trying to figure out the probable outcome of an action he is considering. In public speaking, speakers may also have ulterior motives for employing hypothetical questions.
Scientific studies have shown that some types of hypothetical questions can influence the person who hears them, whether the questioner intends it or not. For example, the question “How likely are you to vote for Candidate X?” tends to subtly cast Candidate X in a positive light, especially when asked by the candidate’s pollsters. A more neutral question might be “Which candidate are you likely to vote for?” Public opinion questions and scientific investigations, where accuracy is paramount, are framed to emphasize neutrality. In advertising and public relations, which are intended to influence and persuade the public, questions may be formulated deliberately to further these ends.
“Hypothetical question” is also a legal term in the judicial systems of the United States and other countries. This usually refers to a question asked by a lawyer in witness testimony. In general, questions should be limited to case-specific evidence and testimony, and hypothetical questions may give rise to a legal objection. In some cases, however, a hypothetical question may be relevant. An appraiser, for example, can describe the likelihood of a hypothetical situation occurring, as long as it is entirely within his or her area of expertise.
Science, especially theoretical physics, also depends on hypothetical questions and situations. These are sometimes called “thought experiments.” Instead of describing situations that have not occurred, they describe situations that science does not yet fully understand. By applying all the known facts and speculating on the results, scientists can actually gain insights and advance knowledge through these thought experiments. This practice is particularly useful for scientific fields where observation and experiment are impractical or impossible, such as quantum mechanics or astrophysics.
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