As A Metaphor, It's Maybe a 3-and-a-Half

[Mark Mandel]

But a quick look at the first page of ghits, with snippets, for "begs
the question whether" (in quotes) suggests that most of them are in
the sense 'raise the question'.

m a m

On Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 9:42 AM, Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu> wrote:
> Well, I agree that many use "beg the question" for "raise the
> question".  But a google count is not going to distinguish between
> those that use the former locution in the newer meaning (synonynous
> with 'raise the question') and those who use it in the original
> sense, that of philosophers going back to Aristotle, for the "petitio
> principii" fallacy alluding to circularity of reasoning by assuming
> the conclusion in arguing for it.  I did say "some would they the
> same", not that all would.
>
> LH

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