Begging the Question

[darren]

Is this an example of begging the question? Why or Why not?

All items in group X have Property Y
A is in group X
A has property Y


Thanks.

[charlou]

Hello darren.

Is this an example of begging the question? Why or Why not?

All items in group X have Property Y
A is in group X
A has property Y


Thanks.

Begging which question? < -- This one? <--- Or this one? < -- This one? <--- Or this one? < -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one?< -- This one? <--- Or this one? etcetera ...

[FBM]

Is this an example of begging the question? Why or Why not?

All items in group X have Property Y
A is in group X
A has property Y


Thanks.

No, this isn't begging the question. Google 'logical fallacies'.

[Azathoth]

God exists, the bible says so.

That is begging the question

[FBM]

God exists, the bible says so.

That is begging the question

Maybe you should add, 'the bible is true because it's the word of god'. Each statement depends on an assumption inherent in the other.

[darren]

Is this an example of begging the question? Why or Why not?

All items in group X have Property Y
A is in group X
A has property Y


Thanks.

No, this isn't begging the question. Google 'logical fallacies'.

Why do you think that it is not begging the question? I think it is begging the question.

I can rephrase the argument like this:

---------
Group X contains (item 1, item 2, item 3, item 4, .....)
item 1 has property Y
item 2 has property Y
item 3 has property Y
item 4 has property Y
...
...
Therefore, all items in group X have Property Y

All items in group X have Property Y
A, (also known as item 3), is in group X
A, (item 3), has property Y
---------


so, you can see that the conclusion is contained within a premise.

what do you think?

[FBM]

I think it's "A had property Y" is just an example that supports the premise. It's not a true conclusion in the sense that it tries to take the argument forward or propose something new. It doesn't. It just supports the premise as an example. I could be wrong, of course.

[MrFungus420]

Is this an example of begging the question? Why or Why not?

All items in group X have Property Y
A is in group X
A has property Y


Thanks.

No, this isn't begging the question. Google 'logical fallacies'.

Why do you think that it is not begging the question? I think it is begging the question.

I can rephrase the argument like this:

---------
Group X contains (item 1, item 2, item 3, item 4, .....)
item 1 has property Y
item 2 has property Y
item 3 has property Y
item 4 has property Y
...
...
Therefore, all items in group X have Property Y

All items in group X have Property Y
A, (also known as item 3), is in group X
A, (item 3), has property Y
---------


so, you can see that the conclusion is contained within a premise.

what do you think?

Rephrase it like this:

P1: All dogs are mammals.
P2: Lassie is a dog.
C: Therefore, Lassie is a mammal.

A defining characteristic of a member of Group X is that it has property Y.

Begging the question is more like asking, "Who created the universe?" The question is assuming that it was a "who" and not a "what".

Or the classic, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" It assumes that you have been beating your wife.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

There are two forms to this. The one I use is "This just begs for the following question to be asked."

[FBM]

I beg you to change the question.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I beg you to change the question.

Have you stopped beating your willy? Yes or no?

[Thinking Aloud]

There are two forms to this. The one I use is "This just begs for the following question to be asked."

That's the most popular interpretation, and used to get people all hot and bothered on RDF!

[FBM]

I beg you to change the question.

Have you stopped beating your willy? Yes or no?

I'm not dead yet, am I?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I beg you to change the question.

Have you stopped beating your willy? Yes or no?

I'm not dead yet, am I?

You'd be the one to know.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

There are two forms to this. The one I use is "This just begs for the following question to be asked."

That's the most popular interpretation, and used to get people all hot and bothered on RDF!

Some guys over at JREF went ballistic when I used it that way. Carpet-chewing was rampant. I assumed a FOAD posture at that point.