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Definition:
Begging the Question is an informal fallacy in which an arguments utilizes as a
premise the same idea which is also contained in the conclusion. For example:
It says in the Bible that God exists. Since the Bible is God's word, and God never speaks falsely, then everything in the Bible must be true. So, God must exist.
Such an argument is technically valid, because if the premises are true then it is impossible for the conclusion to be false. However, a circular argument cannot provide logical support for a proposition.
Also Known As: petitio principii, circular argument
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is the Logic and the Philosophy of Language?
The two fields Logic and the Philosophy of Language are often treated separately, but they are nevertheless close enough that they are presented together here. Logic is the study of methods of reasoning and argumentation, both proper and improper. The Philosophy of Language, on the other hand, involves the study of how our language interacts with our thinking.What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? Is there any point in studying philosophy, or is it a useless subject? What are the different branches of philosophy - what's the difference between aestheitcs and ethics? What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
