Hi, >>> >>> Which begs the question . . . >> >> >> This seems to be my nitpick of the day. >> >> To beg a question means to pretend the question doesn't arise, >> not to call for an answer to the question. >>
> I'm with you, John - I actually won a bet on this the other day. > Unfortunately it's become common usage, at least with media people in Oz. Well, really there are 2 ways of using the phrase - informally and formally. Informally, or colloquially, people use it to mean 'raise the question'. This use may be based on a mistaken understanding of the formal use, but it's now so common that it's never misunderstood in context. We should now treat it as perfectly correct, in my opinion, because it communicates what is intended. We don't have to like it though. Formally the phrase belongs in the world of philosophy and critical thinking, and means that you are assuming the point that is at issue, which is circular reasoning. People who understand the formal use of the phrase usually avoid the colloquial use. But if you were to use it 'correctly' in an informal context, there's a better-than-even chance that you'd be misunderstood. So perhaps it's best avoided altogether unless you're in a seminar with a bunch of philosophers. -- Cheers, Bob
