[PatrickHenry]

When such dubious assumptions buried in the argument are crucial for the support of the conclusion, the argument is bad and can be very misleading.

Rand identified what may be a variant of this, and called it the "fallacy of the stolen concept." An example is the Marxist mantra that "property is theft." The whole idea that theft is wrong can't be maintained without acceptance of the concept of property.

[general_re]

Interesting - the statement itself is self-contradictory.

[VadeRetro]

An example is the Marxist mantra that "property is theft."

... Of what? Of itself? Good one on Ayn! Never noticed the fallacy there.

[squarebarb]

'Property is theft'

Can't one just say, 'No it isn't'?

Or, 'Prove it?'

In regards to the above discussion these are what I call rhetorical questions, or statements disguised as a question.

Anytime somebody says, 'Don't you think that...' I say, that is not a question. You are making a statment. Make it if you like. I am not interested in making a counter-statement.