Begging the Question (2024)

FAQs

What is begging the question by being the answer? ›

The fallacy of begging the question occurs when an argument's premises assume the truth of the conclusion, instead of supporting it. In other words, you assume without proof the stand/position, or a significant part of the stand, that is in question. Begging the question is also called arguing in a circle.

If something begs the question, what you are actually asking is, “Is the premise of that argument actually true?” For example, the statement “Snakes make great pets. That's why we should get a snake” begs the question “Are snakes really great pets?”

Begging the question means "to elicit a specific question as a reaction or response," and can often be replaced with "a question that begs to be answered." However, a lesser used and more formal definition is "to ignore a question under the assumption it has already been answered." The phrase itself comes from a ...

The arguer is hoping we'll just focus on the uncontroversial premise, “Murder is morally wrong,” and not notice what is being assumed. Tip: One way to try to avoid begging the question is to write out your premises and conclusion in a short, outline-like form.

Straw man fallacy is the distortion of someone else's argument to make it easier to attack or refute. Instead of addressing the actual argument of the opponent, one may present a somewhat similar but not equal argument.

This fallacy consists in diverting attention from the real issue by focusing instead on an issue having only a surface relevance to the first.

Historically, begging the question refers to a fault in a dialectical argument in which the speaker assumes some premise that has not been demonstrated to be true. In modern usage, it has come to refer to an argument in which the premises assume the conclusion without supporting it.

Begging the question is also known as "circular reasoning," because in order for your argument to be true, the conclusion has to be true.

“It begs the question” is a response to a logically circular argument. You can use “it begs the question” within a larger sentence, as in the one below: To say that someone is a good leader because she has good leadership skills begs the question. You don't actually need to explain how or why it begs the question.

Begging the question, also known as petitio principii (Latin for “assuming the principle”), occurs when an argument attempts to prove a statement's truth by asserting that something logically equivalent to it is true. The terms “begging the question” and “circular reasoning” are often used interchangeably.

Is begging the question the same as raising the question? ›

The term "begging the question" is just circular reasoning, so be sure to use the phrase only when that circular reasoning is being applied. If it's not, use "asks the question" or "raises the question."

If a statement or situation begs the question, it causes you to ask a particular question: Spending the summer travelling around India is a great idea, but it does beg the question of how we can afford it. To discuss the company's future begs the question of whether it has a future.

For example, “Wool sweaters are superior to nylon jackets as fall attire because wool sweaters have the higher wool content” begs the question because the argument fails to explain why having the higher wool content makes a garment superior.

Circularity occurs when a non-self-evident assumed statement is used in an argument to prove itself. The fallacy of begging the question is not a case of proving something beside the question or something irrelevant to the issue under consideration. That is, circular reasoning is not simply missing the point at issue.

Expert-Verified Answer

The argument that most clearly is an example of begging the question is option A. This argument states, "The movie deserves to win an Oscar because it's more deserving than other films." This statement is circular because it assumes the conclusion (that the movie deserves an Oscar) as a premise.

Historically, begging the question refers to a fault in a dialectical argument in which the speaker assumes some premise that has not been demonstrated to be true. In modern usage, it has come to refer to an argument in which the premises assume the conclusion without supporting it.

Circular reasoning fallacy, on the other hand, occurs when the evidence used to support a claim is just a repetition of the claim itself. For example, “People have free will because they can choose what to do.”