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"Begging the question" is a little understood and much misused phrase. It refers to the logical fallacy of asking someone to accept your conclusion as a premise. Logical argument is supposed to proceed from statements which everyone accepts to others which are debatable. A question-begging argument assumes the question under debate as a premise.

At its simplest, it might go like this:

A: Prove to me that Jimmy Hoffa was abducted by aliens.

B: OK. Let's assume that Jimmy Hoffa was abducted by aliens.

A: All right.

B: Well, if that's the case then obviously Hoffa wasabducted by aliens. There's your proof.

A more complicated (but very common) form involves assuming two propositions which prove each other.

A: Prove to me that The Bible is the Word of God and that it is always true.

B: Well, the Bible is the Word of God, so it must be true.

A: But how do you prove that the Bible is the Word of God?

B: The Bible must be the word of God, because it says so in the Bible, and the Bible is always true.

Since both "The Bible is the Word of God" and "The Bible is always true" are propositions to be proven, B cannot base his argument on either of them, so the above argument is question-begging. If A accepted either one, B could legitimately derive the other from it.

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How does the concept of begging the question relate to the form of reasoning where we beg others to ask questions?

The concept of begging the question is not about asking others to ask questions. Instead, it refers to a logical fallacy where the conclusion of an argument is assumed in one of the premises. It does not involve actually begging someone to ask questions.


What is a example of Begging the Question regarding fallacies?

An example of begging the question fallacy would be: "You can't prove that ghosts don't exist because there is no evidence that ghosts don't exist." This argument assumes its conclusion (that ghosts exist) by using the lack of evidence against it as evidence in favor of it.


What statement is an example of begging the question?

"Aliens must exist because there are countless reports of alien sightings." This statement is an example of begging the question because it assumes the truth of the claim (aliens exist) in order to support the argument (alien sightings are real).


What reasoning is also called begging the question?

Circular reasoning, or begging the question, is a fallacy where the conclusion is assumed in the premises. This means that the argument is not properly supporting the conclusion, and is essentially repeating the same idea in different words without providing evidence or support.


What are fallacies of presumption?

Fallacies of presumption occur when an argument is based on an unjustified assumption or presupposition. Examples include begging the question (assuming the truth of the conclusion in the premise), false dilemma (presenting only two options when more exist), and complex question (posing a question that assumes something not yet proven).

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What reasoning is also begging the question?

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What is the writing term 'begging the question'?

Begging the question is a logical fallacy in which the proposition to be proved is assumed implicitly or explicitly in the premise.


What is also called begging the question?

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WTFiWWY - 2010 Begging the Question 2-16 was released on: USA: 3 June 2011


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How does the concept of begging the question relate to the form of reasoning where we beg others to ask questions?

The concept of begging the question is not about asking others to ask questions. Instead, it refers to a logical fallacy where the conclusion of an argument is assumed in one of the premises. It does not involve actually begging someone to ask questions.


What does Entreat mean?

entreating = pleading with, begging


What is crying for help mean?

im begging for your help is what it means


What is a example of Begging the Question regarding fallacies?

An example of begging the question fallacy would be: "You can't prove that ghosts don't exist because there is no evidence that ghosts don't exist." This argument assumes its conclusion (that ghosts exist) by using the lack of evidence against it as evidence in favor of it.


Which logical fallacy makes the assumption that youre trying to prove is a fact?

begging the question.