begging the question

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English

A marble sculpture of the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle (384–322 b.c.e.), whose work Prior Analytics contained an early discussion of the logical fallacy of begging the question. The sculpture, a 1st- or 2nd-century copy of the lost bronze statue by Lysippos, is in the collection of the Louvre in Paris, France.

Pronunciation

Noun

begging the question (uncountable)

  1. A logical fallacy in which a premise of an argument contains a direct or indirect assumption that the conclusion is true; offering a circular argument; circular reasoning.
    It is an instance of begging the question to argue that God can only do good deeds because God is good.

Usage notes

  • In common usage, begging the question has recently become synonymous with “raising the question”; this usage is often proscribed.

Synonyms

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Translations

Verb

begging the question

  1. present participle and gerund of beg the question.

Further reading