Begging the Question

'Begging the question' (also 'petitio principii') is an informal fallacy of reasoning. In this video, I'll explain what it is, how it relates to circular reasoning, tips on avoiding it, and some common mistakes about it.

NOTES

Here's an example of "begs the question" used incorrectly in a DC Justice League comic by The Flash

Further Reading

Aristotle talks about this in Sophistical Refutations and in Prior Analytics book II.

Whatley's Elements of Logic is interesting for historical reasons, but there are much better logic books now. Read it for free online here. Don't buy it unless you like artifacts.

René Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy for free here, or get a more recent translation here