Don't misuse "begs the question"

griffin

Jedi Master
FOTCM Member
The last SoTT editor comment to this article - http://www.sott.net/article/295481-Floodplain-executive-order-is-latest-Obama-power-grab - reads "which begs the question...on what else might he be presumptuously ignorant and executively disordered?"

That comment misuses the phrase "begs the question". It should instead read "suggests...", "brings up" or "leads to" the question. To "beg the question" means to assume the truth of whatever one has been challenged to prove, and it is a form of fallacy and a tool of sophistry. Please don't misuse this phrase.
 
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