Abstract
In a recent article, D. A. Truncellito (2004, ‘Running in Circles about Begging the Question’, Argumentation 18, 325–329) argues that the discussion between Robinson (1971, ‘Begging the Question’, Analysis 31, 113–117), Sorensen (1996, ‘Unbeggable Questions’, Analysis 56, 51–55) and Teng (1997, ‘Sorensen on Begging the Question’, Analysis 57, 220–222) shows that we need to distinguish between logical fallacies, which are mistakes in the form of the argument, and rhetorical fallacies, which are mistakes committed by the arguer. While I basically agree with Truncellito’s line of thinking, I believe this distinction is not tenable and offer a different view. In addition, I will argue that the conclusion to draw from the abovementioned discussion is that validity is not a sufficient criterion of begging the question, and that we should be wary of the containment-metaphor of a deductive argument.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aristotle: 1984, The Complete Works of Aristotle, The revised Oxford translation, Jonathan Barnes (ed.), Fourth printing in 1991, Volume 1, Bollingen Series LXXI, 2., Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey
Biro J. 1977, Rescuing ‘Begging the Question’. Metaphilosophy 8:257–271
Biro J. 1984, ‘Knowability, Believability, and Begging the Question: A Reply to Sanford. Metaphilosophy 15:239–247
Biro J., H. Siegel 1992, ‘Normativity, Argumentation, and Fallacies In: F. H. Eemeren, R. Grootendorst, J. A. Blair, Ch. A. Willard (eds) Argumentation Illuminated, 1. Sic Sat, Amsterdam, pp. 85–103
Eemeren F. H. van, R. Grootendorst, A. F. Snoeck Henkemans 1996, Fundamentals of Argumentation Theory. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, Mahwah, New Jersey
Robinson R. 1971, Begging the Question. Analysis 31:113–117
Robinson R. 1981 Begging the Question. Analysis 41:65
Sanford D. 1972 Begging the Question. Analysis 32:197–199
Sanford D. H. 1981, Superfluous Information, Epistemic Conditions and Begging the Question. Metaphilosophy 12:145–158
Sanford D. H. 1988, Begging the Question as Involving Actual Belief and Inconceivable Without It. Metaphilosophy 19:32–37
Sinnott-Armstrong, W.: 1999, Begging the Question, Australasian Journal of Philosophy 77, 174–191
Sorensen R. A. 1996, Unbeggable Questions. Analysis 56:51–55
Teng N. Y. 1997, Sorensen on Begging the Question. Analysis 57:220–222
Truncellito D. A. 2004, Running in Circles about Begging the Question. Argumentation 18:325–329
Walton D. 1991, Begging the Question: Circular Reasoning as a Tactic of Argumentation. Greenwood, Westport, CT
Walton D. 1994, Begging the Question as a Pragmatic Fallacy. Synthese 100:95–131
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ritola, J. Yet Another Run around the Circle. Argumentation 20, 237–244 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-006-9011-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-006-9011-1