Begging the Question

• Attempt to establish conclusion of an argument by using the conclusion as a premise
• Usually some disguised version of the conclusion is a premise
• Speaker usually assumes a statement under examination to be true

Examples

• Freedom of speech is important because people should be able to speak freely
  • Why is it important for everyone to have a voice?
• The death penalty is wrong because killing people is immoral
  • Why is killing people immoral?
• Ghosts are real because I have had experiences with them
  • Are the experiences valid?

Philosophy Fallacy