Begging the Question
Assuming the truth of the conclusion inside the premises meant to support it.
- informal
Begging the question (petitio principii) is circular reasoning: the conclusion is quietly assumed by one of the premises, so the argument “proves” the claim only by taking it for granted. The reasoning goes in a circle and offers no independent support. (Note: this is the logical sense, not the everyday “raises the question.”)
Examples
- “The Bible is true because it's the word of God — and we know it's the word of God because the Bible says so.”
- “She's the right person for the job because she's exactly who the company needs.”
Why it works & how to counter
Persuasive because the premise and conclusion sound different even when they say the same thing. Counter it by asking whether the reason given would convince someone who doesn't already accept the conclusion.