What exactly is "begging the question" ?

Question

also, what is the "straw man argument"?

Answer 1

There are numerous meanings for "Begging the question".

It means a generalization or assuming a point about an issue. It is also used to avoid answering a question.  In modern usage it means the question should be raised or asked about a subject or topic.  

more about it here:

http://www.answers.com/topic/begging-the...

The straw man argument is usually full of rhetoric and may even succeed in convincing people but it has very little proof or evidence.  

Example:  A hypothetical debate about popular ice cream flavors:

Person 1:  I read an article recently that Ben & Jerry's has been selling more strawberry ice cream in recent months; that it is gaining in popularity.  

Person 2:  That's so untrue.  Anybody with a brain knows that vanilla and chocolate will always be the favorite flavors of everyone.

Person 2 is giving the straw man argument.

Answer 2

Begging the question: When someone makes a statement that introduces a thought, fact, puzzlement that hadn't occurred to you, that 'someone' has 'begged the question' that you're about to pose.

Answer 3

Both are logical fallacies

"Begging the question" in popular usage usually refers to a person that gives an argument that invites an obvious question.  Its usually used in terms of logical fallacy when an argument assumes in a  proposition, the very thing that the argument is trying to prove.  It is often equated with "circular argument"

A straw man argument is where you build up an issue that is not central to your opponent's argument, and then destroy it.  You have not actually done anything to your opponent's argument.  Its a fallacy many politicians are guilty of.

Answer 4

Good question!  It is one of my pet peeves that so many people misuse this phrase.  While a lot of folks use it to mean: raises the question, its proper use is to mean: avoid the question.

For example, if your wife asks: Do I look fat in this dress?  Any you answer:  I think it is a lovely dress -- You have begged the question.

As for the Straw Man Argument:

A straw man argument is false argument based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position.

To "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw man argument" is to describe a position that resembles an opponent's actual view but is easier to refute.

A straw man argument can be a successful technique (that is, it may succeed in persuading people) but it carries little or no real evidential weight, because the opponent's actual argument has not been refuted.

Its name comes from the practice of using straw men in combat training. In such training, a scarecrow is made in the image of the enemy.

Such a target naturally does not fight back, and is not as realistic to test skill against compared to a live and armed opponent.

Answer 5

I can not improve on jaylite's answer so I gave it a thumbs up. It seems to me to be right on the money.

Answer 6

begging the question -- answering in such a way that you don't really answer the question