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2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 3. Question Begging

[taking for granted the very thing you are trying to prove]

3 ideas
Men are natural leaders (apart from the unnatural ones) [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: A male, unless he is somehow formed contrary to nature, is by nature more capable of leading than a female.
     From: Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1259b01)
     A reaction: Beautiful! The greatest of all philosophers offers us a perfect perpetration of the No True Scotsman Fallacy! If the question is 'are men natural leaders?', this seems to beg it.
'Petitio principii' is reusing the idea to be defined, in disguised words [Hobbes]
     Full Idea: 'Petitio principii' is when the conclusion to be proved is disguised in other words, and put for the definition or principle from whence it is to be demonstrated.
     From: Thomas Hobbes (De Corpore (Elements, First Section) [1655], 1.6.18)
Question-begging assumes the proposition which is being challenged [PG]
     Full Idea: To beg the question is to take for granted in your argument that very proposition which is being challenged
     From: PG (Db (ideas) [2031])
     A reaction: An undoubted fallacy, and a simple failure to engage in the rational enterprise. I suppose one might give a reason for something, under the mistaken apprehension that it didn't beg the question; analysis of logical form is then needed.