What is Begging the Question?

Begging the question is a logical fallacy that occurs when someone assumes the truth of their argument in their premises. It is often used incorrectly in everyday conversation as an informal way of saying that a statement is obviously true. However, in formal logic and argumentation, it is an error. To understand what begging the question is, it is important to understand the difference between an argument and a statement.

Arguments vs. Statements

An argument is a set of statements that attempt to prove a conclusion. The conclusion is the main point of the argument and the premises are the statements that support the conclusion. In order for an argument to be sound, the premises must be true and the conclusion must follow from the premises. A statement, on the other hand, is simply a fact or opinion that does not require proof.

What is Begging the Question?

Begging the question occurs when someone assumes the truth of their conclusion in their premises. For example, the following argument is begging the question: “God exists because the Bible says so.” The conclusion of this argument is that God exists, but the premises assume that the Bible is true, which is the same conclusion. This type of argument is invalid because it does not prove the conclusion; it simply restates it.

Examples of Begging the Question

Begging the question can take many forms. Here are some examples of arguments that beg the question:

• “The Bible is true because it was written by God.”
• “You should believe in God because it is the right thing to do.”
• “You can't trust him because he is untrustworthy.”
• “Capitalism is the best system because it is the most efficient.”

In each of these examples, the conclusion is assumed in the premise. This makes the argument invalid because it does not provide any proof for the conclusion.

How to Avoid Begging the Question

If you want to make a valid argument, you must make sure that your premises do not assume the truth of your conclusion. Here are some tips to help you avoid begging the question:

• Check your premises. Make sure that each one is true and does not assume the truth of the conclusion.
• Make sure your argument is logically valid. If you are using a deductive argument, make sure that the conclusion follows from the premises.
• Be aware of common fallacies. Begging the question is a common fallacy, so make sure to check for it in your arguments.
• Be open to other points of view. If you are open to other points of view, you may be able to find a better argument that does not beg the question.

Conclusion

Begging the question is a logical fallacy that occurs when someone assumes the truth of their conclusion in their premises. It is important to be aware of this fallacy and to make sure that your arguments are logically valid. By following the tips above, you can avoid this fallacy and make sure that your arguments are sound.