Lesson 33: Begging the Question

Spot the Faulty Logic #

“We should trust this news source because they always report the truth.” “How do you know they always report the truth?” “Because they’re a trustworthy news source!”

Discussion: Talk with your teacher about this example. What’s the problem with this explanation?

How/Why It’s Often Used #

This is very similar to circular reasoning (Lesson 12), but with a subtle difference. In begging the question, the premise and conclusion might be phrased differently enough that the circularity isn’t immediately obvious. The argument smuggles the conclusion into the starting assumptions.

People often beg the question without realizing it, especially when defending beliefs they hold strongly. The conclusion seems so obviously true to them that they don’t notice they’re assuming it.

Begging the Question in Action #

Did you spot the faulty logic? #

“They report the truth because they’re trustworthy” and “they’re trustworthy because they report the truth” are the same claim in different words. Neither one provides independent evidence for the other.

Second Example #

“The law is the law. We have to follow the speed limit because it’s illegal to speed.”

The Flaw #

If someone is questioning WHY we should follow the law, saying “because it’s the law” doesn’t answer their question. They’re asking for reasons why the law is good - the existence of the law is what they’re questioning, so you can’t use it as its own justification.