Begs the Question: How to Use ‘Begs the Question’ Properly

The phrases "begs the question" and "begging the question" are English language idioms used to describe statements that prompt a specific question. For instance, the statement "if we fly there, we won't get to drive through the desert" begs the obvious question of whether we wanted to drive through the desert in the first place.

Etymologists and language authorities like Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage trace the history of "begs the question" to the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. As part of his examination of circular reasoning and logical fallacies, Aristotle contemplated the notion of an argument that begins by assuming the idea it's trying to prove.

When Ancient Romans adopted these Aristotelian queries on formal logic, they applied them to the Latin term “petitio principii,” which means "assuming the initial point." Centuries later, scholars of Europe's sixteenth-century Enlightenment proposed a questionable translation of the Latin phrase. They translated it as "begging the question," and that term has lived on in English dictionaries, thesauruses, and common usage.

The correct usage of "begs the question" is in response to statements that suggest logical fallacies or faulty premises. “Begs the question” is often used interchangeably with “raises the question;” however, some grammarians argue they are not synonyms. There is a subtle difference in that “begs the question” has to do with a flawed argument and “raises the question” is concerned with missing information.

For instance, if your friend shares their opinion that eggs are the best food in the world, that statement might raise some questions about how they formed that opinion. Without additional information, you might be wondering whether the determining factor was taste, recipe flexibility, or nutrition. By contrast, the statement that “eggs are the best food in the world because they come from chickens” begs the question, “why chickens?” The argument is fundamentally flawed because not all eggs come from chickens.

Perhaps the most common error in the modern American usage of "begs the question" is treating the word "beg" in a literal sense. "Begging the question" does not mean pleading and cajoling. Linguists consider this a misuse of the phrase.

A sentence that correctly uses the phrase “begs the question” will describe the pressing question prompted in a listener's mind. It can also point out a fallacy or a circular argument in the original sentence. It would be incorrect, however, to use "beg" in the literal sense.

The following sentences demonstrate correct use of the phrase "begging the question" in modern English.

1. 1. “The school’s mandate that all students must wear polo shirts to prevent distractions begs the question as to what makes polo shirts less distracting than other items of clothing.”
2. 2. “The manager’s theory that the pop star garnered more attention because he likes attention begs the question: What does liking attention really have to do with getting it?”
3. 3. “The argument that dogs are better than cats because dogs are loyal begs the question: What about dogs that aren’t loyal?”

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