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To: Gasshog
"Begging the question" does not mean "asking what begs to be asked."
The fallacy of petitio principii, or "begging the question", is committed "when a proposition which requires proof is assumed without proof", or more generally denotes when an assumption is used, "in some form of the very proposition to be proved, as a premise from which to deduce it".[2] Thus, insofar as petitio principii refers to arguing for a conclusion that has already been assumed in the premise, this fallacy consists of "begging" the listener to accept the "question" (proposition) before the labor of logic is undertaken.

Here is an example:

Paranormal phenomena exist because I have had experiences that can only be described as paranormal.
The conclusion of this argument is that paranormal phenomena exist. The premise assumes that the arguer has had paranormal experiences, and therefore assumes that paranormal experiences exist. The arguer should not be granted the assumption that his experiences were paranormal, but should be made to provide support for this claim.
18 posted on 11/13/2012 6:01:35 PM PST by Steely Tom (If the Constitution can be a living document, I guess a corporation can be a person.)
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To: Steely Tom

So shoot me. lol.


19 posted on 11/13/2012 6:04:10 PM PST by Gasshog
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To: Steely Tom

That is the historical meaning, but the modern meaning/usage also includes, “asking what begs to be asked.”

Look it up. The language/meaning has changed.


21 posted on 11/14/2012 1:31:40 PM PST by Owl558 ("Those who remember George Satayana are doomed to repeat him")
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