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To: Melas

Actually, accusing someone of “begging the question” means that the answer they have given in no way addresses the issue in the original question but instead assumes the premise to be true, or offers a “non-answer”.

Probably today’s questioners don’t wish to be as confrontational and accusatory as the phrase originally was crafted to be.


194 posted on 09/28/2011 6:47:13 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism - "Who-whom?")
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To: headsonpikes

I don’t think you understood me.

I’m very familiar with begging the question or petitio principii. However, as I said, I can’t think of a single instance of begging the question that doesn’t also raise the question.

If I say Robert is an idiot because he’s stupid, that’s a classical example of begging the question. It also immediately raises the question as to why I would say that as I’ve offered no syllogistic reason to be believed. I’ve tried after reading your original response, and I’m hard put to formulate an expression that begs the question, yet does not raise a question. I’m suspecting that it’s not possible.


202 posted on 09/28/2011 6:56:10 PM PDT by Melas (u)
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