Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 11 1 2 3 10 11
#13557 12/20/00 04:30 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 29
M
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 29
Hi Group,
I have a burning peeve that I must post here as part of my ongoing campaign to eradicate it.
I hear in conversation, and on television and radio, from ones who ought to know better, misuse of the term "begging the question."
It is the name for a logical fallacy in which the truth of the conclusion is assumed by the premises. A simple example:
"I am not lying, so it follows that I am telling the truth."

Begging the question does not--I repeat--does NOT refer to a question which "begs to be asked," as I hear more and more in common usage. Let's all vow to not succumb to this improper usage and to shoot it down in every instance.

Ah, I feel much better now.
Thanks!
m.


#13558 12/20/00 04:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393
N
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
N
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393
Agree totally -- it drives me to a pitch of fury. But the previous thread on this topic was so long I thought there was some hope for us logicians yet.


#13559 12/20/00 04:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
B
veteran
Offline
veteran
B
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289

Well good luck trying to change anything that takes hold on TV and radio. As you must know, much of the perversion of the language can be traced there. Ever since the evil day, now nearly 40 years ago, when a commercial went on TV that said, "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should," the distinction between like and as has been very blurry for the average person (not people like ourselves, of course) (smirking emoticon). Then there is another of my pet peeves, a construction like "She invited Jane and I." I could go on ad nauseam and no doubt others on this board will have more examples, but you may as well abandon hope. Once one of these atrocities gets on the air, people think they are correct (must be, since someone said it on TV or radio) and repeat it, so others repeat it, etc.


#13560 12/20/00 04:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 29
M
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 29
>but you may as well abandon hope<

Would that I could! Hope, my friend, refuses to abandon me.

m.



#13561 12/20/00 06:11 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
>Would that I could! Hope, my friend, refuses to abandon me.

Bring her on. She sounds like the steadfast type we want here



TEd
#13562 12/21/00 12:45 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
P
addict
Offline
addict
P
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
… and what about her mates Faith and Charity!


#13563 12/21/00 12:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Bobyoungbalt : you may as well abandon hope. Once one of these atrocities gets on the air, people think they are correct (must be, since someone said it on TV or radio) and repeat it, so others repeat it, etc.
Bob! There is light at the end of the tunnel and it's the light of knowledge . Our local supermarket recently underwent renovation and, lo and behold, above several "quick check out" areas appeared the sign : "ten items or fewer ! Hurrah! Now, if we can just get management to change the words on the staff vests to May I help you.
Small steps, small steps...
wow
wow



#13564 12/21/00 12:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393
N
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
N
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393
> appeared the sign : "ten items or fewer !

Gotta disagree here. The English for this is "ten items or less".


Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
misuse of the term "begging the question."...a logical fallacy in which the truth of the conclusion is assumed by the premises

If the logicians were so logical they should have called it "Assuming the Conclusion" instead of giving it a name that doesn't describe it so well.

What? Petitio Principii? Gimme a break!


Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 29
M
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 29
>What? Petitio Principii? Gimme a break!<


May the break you ask for be given you.

;-)
m.



Page 1 of 11 1 2 3 10 11

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,606
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 146 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,727
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,933
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5