I'm having a lot of trouble grasping the concept of 'begging the question' when it comes to formal logic.
Can someone please describe it to me in layman's terms?
http://www.google.com/search?q=logic+%22begging+the+question%22&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Certainly! I'd be happy to explain the concept of "begging the question" in layman's terms.
In formal logic, "begging the question" refers to a logical fallacy that occurs when an argument assumes the conclusion it is aiming to prove. Essentially, it means that the argument is improperly assuming the truth of a claim without providing sufficient evidence or valid reasoning.
To understand this concept, let's consider an example. Suppose someone argues: "I know she's trustworthy because she always tells the truth." This argument is begging the question because it assumes the conclusion (that she is trustworthy) without providing any additional evidence or reasoning to support that claim.
To avoid begging the question, an argument should provide independent evidence or reasoning to support the conclusion. In the example above, one way to avoid begging the question would be to provide specific instances where the person in question acted in a trustworthy manner, thus offering evidence for their trustworthiness.
To recognize whether an argument is begging the question, it's important to look for circular reasoning or a reliance on a premise that is just a rephrasing of the conclusion.
To summarize, begging the question in formal logic refers to a logical fallacy where an argument assumes the truth of the conclusion it aims to prove, without providing sufficient evidence or valid reasoning. Avoiding this fallacy involves offering independent evidence or reasoning to support the conclusion, rather than assuming it outright.