Begging the question
Table of Content:
- Begging the question: The conclusion is hidden in the premises.
A circular argument, also known as begging the question, is a logical fallacy in which the conclusion of an argument is assumed in the premises. This means that the argument is essentially saying "A is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true."
Explanation
The circular argument fallacy, also known as "circular reasoning" or "begging the question," occurs when someone uses their conclusion as one of their premises or uses a statement to prove itself. Essentially, the argument goes in a circle, where the conclusion is restated in different words without providing any new evidence or support.
Circular arguments might sound convincing at first glance, but they don't actually provide any meaningful evidence or logic to support the conclusion. They just restate the same idea without actually proving anything.
Here's a simplified example:
Person A: "I know ghosts exist because I've seen a ghost before."
In this example, Person A is using a circular argument. They're using the claim "I've seen a ghost before" to support the conclusion "ghosts exist." However, this argument doesn't offer any new evidence or logic to support the existence of ghosts; it simply assumes that ghosts exist based on the premise that the person has seen one.
Circular arguments can create an illusion of providing evidence, but they are ultimately flawed because they don't offer any new information to back up the conclusion. They just repeat the same idea without establishing its validity.
Here are some examples of circular arguments:
- "God exists because the Bible says so, and the Bible is true because it was written by God."
- "The government should be run by experts because experts are the only ones who can run the government effectively."
- "This is the best restaurant in town because everyone says it is, and everyone knows that everyone knows what they're talking about."
In each of these examples, the conclusion of the argument is assumed in the premises. For example, the argument "God exists because the Bible says so" assumes that the Bible is true. However, the Bible is only considered to be true because it is believed to be the word of God.
Circular arguments can be difficult to identify, but there are a few things you can look for. First, pay attention to the language of the argument. Does it use words like "because" or "since"? Second, consider the context in which the argument is made. Is it being made in a way that is trying to persuade you to accept the conclusion without question?
If you think you are being presented with a circular argument, you can try to identify the assumption that is being made. You can also try to ask the person making the argument to explain why the assumption is true.
It is important to be aware of circular arguments so that you can avoid being persuaded by them. When you are presented with an argument, take a moment to think critically about whether the conclusion is actually being supported by the premises.
Overall, the circular argument fallacy is a type of faulty reasoning where the conclusion is essentially restated as a premise, creating a loop that doesn't actually provide meaningful support for the argument's claim.