Current Events > "Begs the Question" does NOT MEAN "to raise the question".

(+) Yeah! (+)

"Begs the question" or "begging the question" is a logical fallacy whereby the argument assumes truth in its own conclusion. In other words, circular argumentation.

For example,

"This book is a bestseller because it sold many copies"
The argument is that it's a bestseller, the assumed truth is that it sold many copies.

Irregardless, for all intensive purposes, I could care less.

To be fair, they should just change that fallacy's common name to "circular reasoning" or something. "Begs the question" comes off as a misnomer.

But I agree it does annoy me when people say that instead of raises. At least till they fix this

I see it used incorrectly more often than I see it used correctly in academic writing and presentations.

Naysaspace posted...

"This book is a bestseller because it sold many copies"
The argument is that it's a bestseller, the assumed truth is that it sold many copies.

i see what you're going for but where is "begs the question" supposed to fit in the above?

K181 posted...

Irregardless, for all intensive purposes, I could care less.

And its a mute point.