> This note is from an external source and is used for backlinking purposes. Its contents were pulled from [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motte-and-bailey_fallacy). The **motte-and-bailey fallacy** (named after the [motte-and-bailey castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motte-and-bailey_castle "Motte-and-bailey castle")), also called the **castle and courtyard**, is a form of [argument](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument "Argument") and an [informal fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informal_fallacy "Informal fallacy") where an arguer conflates two positions that share similarities: one modest and easy to defend (the "motte") and one much more controversial and harder to defend (the "bailey"). The arguer advances the controversial position, but when challenged, insists that only the more modest position is being advanced. Upon retreating to the motte, the arguer may claim that the bailey has not been refuted (because the critic refused to attack the motte) or that the critic is unreasonable (by equating an attack on the bailey with an attack on the motte).