beg the question

Meanings

• Noun phrase

  A logical fallacy in which an argument assumes the truth of the very thing it is intended to prove.

  - "The statement "You're only a racist if you're against interracial marriage" begs the question by assuming that opposing interracial marriage is the only definition of racism."
  - "The statement "God exists because the universe exists" begs the question by assuming that the universe could not have come into existence without a creator."

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with beg the question
legend , bedden , hedging

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Variants

List of all variants of beg the question that leads to same result
beg , beg the question , begged , begged the question , begging , begging the question , begs , begs the question

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Beg the question is a Latin term, "petitio principii", which translates to 'asking for the first principle'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'petitio principii' was first used by Aristotle in his work 'On Sophistical Refutations'

2. Beg the question is also known as 'circular argument' or 'circular reasoning'

3. The logical fallacy beg the question is often used in political debates and discussions, particularly when dealing with complex and controversial issues.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Circular reasoning: Circular reasoning is a type of logical fallacy that also involves assuming the truth of what is being proven. However, circular reasoning can also include a premise that is derived from the conclusion, whereas beg the question assumes the truth of the conclusion as a premise.

2. Reductio ad absurdum: Reductio ad absurdum is a logical argument that attempts to prove the validity of a statement by showing that the opposite of that statement leads to an absurd conclusion.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Beg the question has been a topic of interest in philosophy and logic, with various philosophers and logicians discussing its implications and consequences in arguments.

How to Memorize "beg the question"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a circular argument where each statement assumes the truth of the previous statement, creating a never-ending loop.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the phrase 'beg the question' with 'circular reasoning' and 'assuming the truth of what is being proven'.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the acronym B.A.G. to remember the meaning of beg the question: Begs Assumption of Given.

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