2007-02-02 01:19:42 · 8 answers · asked by Yonna C 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
"Begging the Question" means to assume exactly what it is one is trying to prove.
http://www.logicalfallacies.info/beggingthequestion.html
"An argument is circular if its conclusion is among its premises, if it assumes (either explicitly or not) what it is trying to prove. Such arguments are said to beg the question. A circular argument fails as a proof because it will only be judged to be sound by those who already accept its conclusion.
Anyone who rejects the argument’s conclusion should also reject at least one of its premises (the one that is the same as its conclusion), and so should reject the argument as a whole. Anyone who accepts all of the argument’s premises already accepts the argument’s conclusion, so can’t be said to have been persuaded by the argument. In neither case, then, will the argument be successful."
"Typical examples of circular arguments include rights-claims: e.g., “I have a right to say what I want, therefore you shouldn’t try to silence me.”
2007-02-02 01:47:24 · answer #1 · answered by S. B. 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I've heard the phrase "begs the question" used in commercials and conversations when the phrase "begets the question" was probably the better choice because the phrase "generates the question" sounded more along the lines of what the speaker was trying to communicate.
To beg the question is a fallacy of logic, and it's assuming what one is trying to prove. I don't mean to turn this into a religious post, but sometimes a Christian apologist will try to prove the Bible is true by assuming the Bible is true, and he/she may cite II Timothy 3:16:
>>>>
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
>>>>
This is in the neighborhood of begging the question.
2007-02-02 02:03:09 · answer #2 · answered by night_train_to_memphis 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Like previous answerers say, it means to argue in a circle - to appear to prove something, but part of the proof was assuming that it was true anyway, usually in a disguised form.
It is nowadays frequently and WRONGLY used when the speaker means that something either raises a further question, or that an answer just invites a further question to be asked.
2007-02-02 03:46:24 · answer #3 · answered by bh8153 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When your explanation about something leads to an obvious question. You might then say; that begs the question....
2007-02-02 01:28:27 · answer #4 · answered by Rick 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it means that a situation naturally calls for it to be questioned...
EX: The fact that the student broke the window begs the question as to why they were left unsupervised.
2007-02-02 01:28:37 · answer #5 · answered by techteach03 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It means when a conversation is so tantilizing
that it invokes someone to ask why. It means to
enquire further.
2007-02-02 01:30:15 · answer #6 · answered by Precious Gem 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When the narration will automatically make the other person ask a question.
2007-02-02 01:25:48 · answer #7 · answered by Traveller 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
To assume what has still to be proved.
2007-02-02 02:09:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋