Category Archives: Begging the Question

It is invalid and holds no weight

Posted on 12/2/2012 by John Casey

So, I was derping around on the internets and I ran into an article with the following portentous title: "A Rational Basis for Marriage between One Man and One Woman."  Curious, I read on.  Here's how it begins: It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Begging the Question, General discussion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

When the Mob Attacks!

Posted on 5/10/2012 by Jem Hilton

If you haven't had enough… The kerfuffle surrounding the recent canning of CHE blogger Naomi Schaefer Riley has once again made obvious the inherent racism deeply entrenched in our public discourse. Just because you don't mean to be racist does … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hominem, Begging the Question, General discussion | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Ward, you were a little hard on the Beaver last night

Posted on 6/21/2011 by John Casey

There is a new academic paper defending the idea that marriage of the "Leave it to Beaver" variety is a metaphysical fact (and no, I'm not kidding): Marriage is the union of a man and a woman who make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Begging the Question | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

A circular argument against begging the question

Posted on 4/26/2011 by Scott Aikin

A puzzle for the readers of the NonSequitur.  Colin, John and I will be attending the upcoming Ontario Society for the Study of Argumentation (OSSA) conference in the coming weeks.  We're presenting a version of the Subjunctive Tu Quoque argument (Colin … Continue reading →

Posted in Argument Analysis, Begging the Question, General discussion, Straw Man | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Dear Santa Claus

Posted on 9/22/2010 by Scott Aikin

Another foray into logic and rock 'n roll.  This time, it's one of my personal favorites, XTC's "Dear God":  Lyrics/ Video. First, a quick survey of the argument of the song and then three argumentative-logical issues. "Dear God" is supposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Begging the Question, General discussion, Narrativism, Specious allegations of fallacy, Straw Man | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Liberal Intelligentsia

Posted on 8/20/2010 by John Casey

You have to hand it to Charles Krauthammer, at least he makes an effort to mount an argument.  Sadly, however, his effort too often confuses fallacious forms of argument with valid ones.  Today's topic: the "Ground Zero" "Mosque."  I put … Continue reading →

Posted in Begging the Question, Charles Krauthammer, hollow man, Specious allegations of fallacy, Straw Man, Things that are false, weak man | Tagged , | 4 Comments

I will politicize free will!

Posted on 8/19/2010 by Scott Aikin

Another addition to the evaluation of rock and roll argumentation.  Last time, Jem suggested a discussion of Rush's "Free Will."  Here goes. (Lyrics here) I remember back in high school when someone told me that Rush was 'thinking man's music.'  … Continue reading →

Posted in Argument Analysis, Begging the Question, General discussion, ignorance of basic matters of logic | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Because it has a dormitive power

Posted on 8/10/2010 by John Casey

Throughout the internets there has been headsratching and headshaking over this op-ed by NYT's David Brooks-in-training, Ross Douthat.  He begins by admitting that the arguments of gay marriage opponents have so far failed: Here are some commonplace arguments against gay marriage: … Continue reading →

Posted in Begging the Question, Plain Bad Arguments, Ross Douthat, Things that are false, Unclassifiable | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Straight face

Posted on 8/5/2010 by John Casey

Maggie Gallagher, president of NOM, writes: Despite the media hoopla, this is not the first case in which a federal judge has imagined and ruled that our Constitution requires same-sex marriage. A federal judge in Nebraska ruled for gay marriage … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hominem Abusive, Begging the Question, hollow man, Straw Man | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

That’s icky, your argument is invalid

Posted on 6/28/2010 by John Casey

Deep Christian thinker Mike Huckabee on teh gay (from a New Yorker Interview via Crooks and Liars): One afternoon in Jerusalem, while Huckabee was eating a chocolate croissant in the lounge of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, I asked him to explain … Continue reading →

Posted in Begging the Question | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments