General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)I Beg You: Never, ever use "Begs the Question" [View all]
Small pet peeve of mine, but I've just read two OPs in a row that used this phrase, incorrectly.
"Begs the Question" is a logical fallacy. It means to make a statement that relies on the truth of another statement that has not been proven - usually in a circular manner. It is something like "Alaska is the largest US state because it has a bigger land area than the others". Or "George Carlin's stand up is really funny because he uses such humorous voices and turns of phrase". Using a statement like that begs the question of is the conclusion really true - because the premise doesn't prove it.
In any case, Begs the Question has been MIS-USED for so long, that there really are only two ways to use it currently:
1. Use it correctly, and 95% of your audience won't know what the hell you are talking about
OR
2. Use it incorrectly, which is to contribute to problem #1
It's catchy, "begs the question". BUT please use "raises the question" or "it makes me wonder" or "asks the question" or "implies the question" instead. Begs the question has been ruined from misuse, and there is no saving it.
/minirant