beg the question
Assume the conclusion
Beg the question has two distinct uses that often clash.
The traditional meaning is to assume the truth of what you're trying to prove—circular reasoning where the conclusion is smuggled into the premise: Saying the Bible is true because it's the word of God begs the question of whether it is the word of God.
The newer and now more common meaning is simply to raise or invite an obvious question: His absence begs the question: where was he?
Purists object to this second use, but it dominates everyday speech.
Fallacy assuming its conclusion
- logical fallacyError in reasoning
- tautologyRedundant or circular statement
- vicious circleSelf-reinforcing negative loop
- circular argumentProof that presupposes itself
sophism · invalid argument · reasoning error · self-referential · bootstrapping · flawed logic
Assume beforehand as true
- assumeAccept as true
- take for grantedAssume without questioning
- foregone conclusionResult assumed beforehand
- prejudgeAssess before having facts
presupposition · conjecture · supposition · given · antecedent
circular reasoning
Fallacy assuming its conclusion
- logical fallacyError in reasoning
- tautologyRedundant or circular statement
- vicious circleSelf-reinforcing negative loop
circular argument · sophism · invalid argument · reasoning error · self-referential · bootstrapping · flawed logic
presuppose
Assume beforehand as true
- assumeAccept as true
- take for grantedAssume without questioning
- foregone conclusionResult assumed beforehand
prejudge · presupposition · conjecture · supposition · given · antecedent
suggest
Offer an idea indirectly
- lead toBring about as consequence
- bring upIntroduce for discussion
- call into questionExpress skepticism about something
beg the questionsound argument
Logically valid reasoning
logical proof · prove · demonstrate · deductive reasoning · deduce
begging, beggar, begged, begs, beggars, begging the question, beggarman