Well the instigators of this campaign have their reasons but I think it "raises the question" use is far more useful and makes sense too. To beg is to humbly ask and I think that it is a clearer and more succinct use of the phrase. The fact that it's wrong has nothing to do with it ;-)
I suspect it's not going to be "wrong" for too much longer. For whatever reason, saying "begs the question" instead of "raises the question" seems to be extremely popular among TV personalities. I presume it's because they think that "begs the question" sounds more educated and intellectual. Which it would if it meant what they thought it did.
But, unlike C (for which there is a standard), usage defines natural languages. If the "raises the question" usage continues, it will eventually become accepted and the "circular argument" definition will be reduced to a footnote.
Oh well, perhaps one of my undergrad philosphy professors will see this and feel like his time wasn't entirely wasted. ;)
--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! .. Now KEN and BARBIE
at are PERMANENTLY ADDICTED to
visi.com MIND-ALTERING DRUGS...
I have no idea. I haven't worked there for over thirty years. The research was done on a military contract.
-- Al Balmer Sun City, AZ
Well, the good ol' "Meaning of Liff" has a similar thought on other phrases:
GASTARD (n.) Useful specially new-coined word for an illegitimate child (in order to distinguish it from someone who merely cuts you up on the motorway, etc.)
I should think that a philosophy Professor has little defence against suggestions of time wasted ;-)
So now we know what happened to your light bulb and my glass - it was friendly fire.
Regards, Richard.
This happened on a fairly regular basis at a pub I used to go into. The landlord had a tendency to fit "candle" bulbs in all his light fittings regardless of the orientation of the fitting. If inserted "upside down" (where the fitting is above the body of the bulb), the bulb can't cool efficently (since they're narrower than standard bulbs) and explodes when it overheats.
Never heard of a bulb exploding when _cooling_ however.
-- Andrew Smallshaw andrews@sdf.lonestar.org
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