Example: His argument seems to beg the question without proof.
Definition
"To beg the question" is an expression used to describe a logical fallacy where an argument's premise assumes the truth of the conclusion instead of supporting it, often leading to circular reasoning. For example, in 'His argument seems to beg the question without proof,' the reasoning is flawed.
Translations
plantear la cuestión
de vraag oproepen
plantejar la qüestió
soulever la question
die Frage aufwerfen
Etymology
The phrase "to beg the question" originates from a mistranslation of the Latin term 'petitio principii,' which means 'assuming the initial point.' Did you know that 'beg' in this phrase does not mean to plead, but rather to evade or avoid? Over time, its meaning shifted, causing confusion between its logical sense and the common use of 'beg.'
Learn to use this expression actively
"To beg the question" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
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