The problem is 'begs the question' is not an intuitive phrase to describe the formal definition, so we're going to be stuck with this correction forever.
At this point I feel it has only survived as a form of shibboleth.
You’d think that, but we pedants managed to rescue the word “ironic” at one point.
Re:Philosophy as a public service
by GauntletWizard on Thursday January 02, 2020 @06:14PM
(#21941000)
But you've figuratively lost "literally".
That's just highly advanced irony; using the word "literally" non-literally.
Re:Philosophy as a public service
by throwlaplace on Thursday January 02, 2020 @02:01PM
(#21938527)
>The problem is 'begs the question' is not an intuitive phrase to describe the formal definition
it does if you look at the etymology; beg comes begging off i.e. asking for exemption from something. it's archaic at this point of course but still fairly intelligible in that use; "he begged off doing his chores".
You're correct, I appreciate you noting that.
Re:Philosophy as a public service
by SantalBlush on Thursday January 02, 2020 @11:27AM
(#21936734)
It was clear from the context that "begs the question" here essentially means "raises the question," as is often the case. If there is no confusion, there should be no need for clarification.
I normally wouldn’t be pedantic about this but because this is a discussion about philosophy I have to point out that it doesn’t “beg the question”. “Begging the question” is an informal logical fallacy where an argument’s premises assume that its conclusion is true so it ends up being circular. I think you mean it “raises the question”.