RE: MD Solidarity truth

From: David Buchanan (DBuchanan@ClassicalRadio.org)
Date: Sat Jan 18 2003 - 19:17:12 GMT

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    Platt, Matt and all beggers:

    Platt asked:
    I notice you frequently use the phrase, "beg the question" and I keep
    asking myself, "What's the question?" usually finding no answer. Is
    there another way you can make your point or at least reveal the
    question?

    Matt answered:
    The question is, "What's truth?" You want to say, "there are many kinds of
    truth," which implies that "truth" is a thing. For instance, in your way
    of viewing things this question exists: "Objective truth or solidarity
    truth: which one is better?" I want to say, "truth is a property of
    sentences," implying that "truth" is not a thing. In my way of viewing
    things, the question "Objective truth or solidarity truth: which one is
    better?" can't exist. Thus, by your asking that question, you are begging
    the question. Your logic book probably says something like this on the
    "begging the question fallacy": "arriving at a conclusion from statements
    that themselves are questionable and have to be proved but are assumed
    true." Now, granted, this definition begs the question in favor of our
    ability to prove (the implication being in some "necessarily/absolutely
    certain" kind of way) statements, which I don't think is really possible.
    When I say you are begging the question, I'm saying that you are accepting
    a premise that I don't accept, therefore your conclusion isn't one I'm
    likely to also reach. I'm saying the consequences you draw aren't
    consequences of my position, they are consequences of either your position
    or some other position you've just created to look like me.

    DMB says:
    To beg a question is simply to avoid it. To beg an issue is a failure to
    address it. Its not any more complicated than that.

    Thanks.

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