Dear Internets,

I’ve ignored this for as long as I could. Something has to be said.

“Begging the Question” is a specific logical fallacy in which the person presenting the argument assumes what they claim to be proving. There are a whole bunch of sites where you can look this up. Here is an example:

Paranormal phenomena exist because I have had experiences that can only be described as paranormal.

(Skepdic.com)

I also like this definintion from Fallacyfiles.org:

The phrase “begging the question”, or “petitio principii” in Latin, refers to the “question” in a formal debate—that is, the issue being debated. In such a debate, one side may ask the other side to concede certain points in order to speed up the proceedings. To “beg” the question is to ask that the very point at issue be conceded, which is of course illegitimate.

Begging the question does NOT mean to raise or ask the question, like in this headline:

Latest Internet Fracas Begs the Question:
Who’s Driving the Internet Bus?

Okay? Can we all move on now?

I’m guessing not, but I had to try.

Thanks,

eringoblog

*I do not think it means what you think it means.