Lecture Notes by Christopher Lay

Los Angeles Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, and Sociology

Mathew Van Cleave's 2016 Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking

https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/BookDetail.aspx?bookId=457

Chapter 4 "Informal fallacies", § 1 "Formal vs. Informal Fallacies," Sub-§ 3 "Begging the Question"

When an argument commits the fallacy of begging the question, "the premise is essentially the same claim as the conclusion." 

"[T]he premise is essentially saying the same thing as the conclusion."   

The Heart of the Fallacy

"[W]e want our premise to provide a reason for accepting the conclusion."

"But if the premise is the same claim as the conclusion, then it can’t possibly provide a reason for accepting the conclusion[.]"

"Begging the question occurs when one (either explicitly or implicitly) assumes the truth of the conclusion in one or more of the premises." 

"Begging the question is thus a kind of circular reasoning." 

We Want an Argument

"[T]he point of the giving an argument in the first place is to provide some reason for thinking the conclusion is true for those who don’t already accept the conclusion." 

"But if one doesn’t already accept the conclusion, then simply restating the conclusion in a different way isn’t going to convince them."

"Rather, a good argument will provide some reason for accepting the conclusion that is sufficiently independent of that conclusion itself."

"Begging the question utterly fails to do this and this is why it counts as an informal fallacy."

Identifying the Fallacy of Begging the Question

"As with all informal fallacies, detecting it requires a careful understanding of the meaning of the statements involved in the argument."  

"[T]he issue of whether an argument begs the question requires us to draw on our general knowledge of the world. This is the mark of an informal, rather than formal, fallacy."   

Examples

Is this a fallacy?    

1) Heroin has a dormative effect. 

2) Therefore, Heroin makes you sleepy. 

Examples

Is this a fallacy?   

1) Pierce College students are intelligent.  

2) Therefore, Pierce College students are smart.    

Examples

Is this a fallacy?   

1) Philosophy lectures are dull. 

2) Therefore, philosophy lectures are boring.   

Examples

Is this a fallacy?   

1) I desire food so much. 

2) Therefore, I am hungry.   

Examples

Is this a fallacy?   

1) Begging the question involves a premise that says the same thing as the conclusion. 

2) Begging the question is a fallacy.