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"Begs the Question"

"Begs the Question"

"Begs the Question"

(OP)
People have started using "begs the question" to mean "raises the question". This is not the traditional meaning of "begs the question".

Do you believe it is acceptable to use "begs the question" in this new way?

RE: "Begs the Question"

This is the way I have always understood "begs the question".  What do you believe is the traditional meaning?

RE: "Begs the Question"

Geez, I had no idea it was such a complex term.

Eng-Tips: Help for your job, not for your homework  Read FAQ731-376

RE: "Begs the Question"

Personally, I'm not a fan of using 'begging the question' because it does have a specific meaning and history.  However, English, due in part to the lack of a governing body and by its nature, evolves along the lines of common usage.  Words and phrases come to mean what the people, by consensus, want and accept them to mean.  This is a perfect example of a phrase whose meaning is evolving based on usage.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

RE: "Begs the Question"

I believe that the primary purpose of communication is to impart knowledge or understanding. Another use of communication is to challenge an unacceptable statement.
To this end, it is pointless to use words or phrases that are outside the understanding or vocabulary of the intended audience.
With changing usage, due in part to a widespread misunderstanding or lack of knowledge of the precise meaning and/or the rich historical origins of the phrase "Begs the question", the meaning of the phrase "Begs the question" is becoming confused.
It may be more productive in terms of avoiding confusion and/or challenging statements to decide whether you mean
"Raises the question", or "That's a catch 22" and then use the phrase that is widely understood to mean what you intend to say.
respectfully

RE: "Begs the Question"

The enitre point of communication is so that you're ideas are understood by others.
Therefore if the people you are speaking to understand "begs the question" to have the same meaning as "raises the question" then using it is this way is perfectly acceptable.

RE: "Begs the Question"

It is acceptable in regard to a living language that is constantly evolving - it is also acceptable to rail against this degradation of our proud and noble idioms and such!

Really though, I think it's all context, if there's chance of confusing your main point, just use a different set of words.  Only English majors write for the sake of using flowery language.

RE: "Begs the Question"

Tomfh

I believe it is acceptable for those people to use 'begs the question' to mean 'raises the question'.  Just look at the modern usage section in the Wikipedia link above.

English is an evolving language.  We don't all speak like characters from a Shakespeare play.  Thank goodness!

dbuzz

RE: "Begs the Question"

The language is a communication medium, and communication implies not just the transmission of information, but the reception and understanding of that information. The language you choose, both in vocabulary and idiom, should be moderated by your current audience.

Using coarse or common language in the company of educated people will often fail to impart the nuances that you could imply. Using a full and broad range of language will fail to get your message across to dorks!

Since 'begs the question' is now becoming ambiguous in some strata I reserve it's use for company that I know will understand it.

Good Luck
johnwm
________________________________________________________
To get the best from these forums read FAQ731-376 before posting

Steam Engine enthusiasts: www.essexsteam.co.uk

RE: "Begs the Question"

nobody likes a traditionalist! 4 eyes" />Yes, let our language evolve into a new meaning of the phrase.

I do like "begets the question"... I'm going to use that word today somewhere

Wes C.
------------------------------
When they broke open molecules, they found they were only stuffed with atoms. But when they broke open atoms, they found them stuffed with explosions...

RE: "Begs the Question"

If you guys reall want to get riled up about words changing their meaning over time, I recommend you check out the podcast at http://www.podictionary.com/  This guy gives a daily episode dealing wit a given word.  It's amazing to hear how some words have changed over time in meaning, spelling, or both.  On top of that, some words, like MATCH, that have fundamentally different meanings, come from completely different origins.

You just might learn something and I'm not affiliated with it other than being a regular listener.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

"All the world is a Spring"

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

RE: "Begs the Question"

If use of the term "begging the question" in the historical context involves circular logic, then shouldn't we strive to avoid circular logic and avoid the traditional approach?  In other words the logical (non-circular) use of the term "begging the question" should be the same as "raising the question".

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