Begging the Question
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[edit] Definition
Begging the question (also known as circular reasoning, or in Latin as petitio principii) is a formal logical fallacy where a participant uses as a premise that which was to be proven. The most general structure of this argument runs something like the following:
- A implies B (or A implies X which implies Y which implies B)
- B implies A
- Therefore, A.
This is a fallacy because the initial premise assumes as a given the truth of what the eventual conclusion will be, an assumption that may well be incorrect.
[edit] Example
Example 1:
- Antagonist: The Bible is the revealed word of God, and it is inerrant. The Bible says that God exists, therefore, God must exist.
Example 2:
- Antagonist: Selling liquor on Sundays is illegal in this county, because it's bad.
- Protagonist: They sell liquor in the next county over on Sundays, and everyone's okay with that. Why is it bad?
- Antagonist : Why, if it weren't bad, it wouldn't be illegal, would it?
Example 3:
- Antagonist: Everyone who works in that department is crazy!
- Protagonist: Wait a minute, I work in that department.
- Antagonist: Well, that just proves how crazy you are; you're so crazy you don't even recognize it, because everyone who works in that department is crazy!
[edit] Exceptions to the Rule
The phrase "begging the question" is unfortunately somewhat ambiguous in common speech and writing, and can also be used in the sense of "presents a question that simply begs for an answer," as in the following:
Example:
- Protagonist: You've said that the reason that you both didn't show up the exam is because you had a flat tire that slowed you down. On the other hand, your friend says that you didn't show up because the car ran out of gas. This begs the question : which one of you is lying, or are both of you?
Of course, in this context, no argument is presented (and no fallacy is committed).
