I have to carry on, and I can’t keep calm. <g>
Truth be told, it bothers me every time I hear it, but it bothers me most when
used by people who would know better. A specific example: On the show NCIS: Los
Angeles, which Joan and I watched for a few seasons, the director of the LA
detachment is an older woman, Henrietta “Hetty” Lange, played by the wonderful
Linda Hunt. Hetty is preternaturally intelligent. Yet she’s always begging the
question in the incorrect sense. Hetty is the kind of person who would know
better. As should many news commentators, politicians, academics, etc., I hear
misusing the phrase all the time. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone
other than me and one or two of my English professors, use it correctly.
Sigh.
--Bob Whitmire
Certified Neanderthal
On Mar 1, 2015, at 3:08 AM, ChrisB <ftog@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> You carry on, Bob. Inappropriate use of that term has bothered me for years.
> And it's in frequent use by our politicians and commentators Over Here —
> worse luck.
>
> Chris
>
> C M I Barker | Gamlingay
>
>
>> On 28 Feb 2015, at 21:53, Bob Whitmire <bwhitmire@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> No! No! Arrrrggggggg! Improper use of begging the question. Begging the
>> question refers to circular reasoning and stands alone. No question follows
>> begging the question. All of this _raises_ some questions . . . etc.
>> Wikipedia: Begging the question means “assuming the conclusion (of an
>> argument)", a type of circular reasoning. This is an informal fallacy where
>> the conclusion that one is attempting to prove is included in the initial
>> premise of an argument, often in an indirect way that conceals this fact.
>>
>> Sorry. It’s my most persistent language neurosis. Chris B has his pluperfect
>> and I have my begging questions. <g>
--
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