TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: begging the question From:Wayne Douglass <wayned -at- VERITY -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 12 Jun 1997 15:33:49 -0700
At 05:42 PM 6/12/97 -0700, Pat Gantt wrote:
>Since I am the BTQ criminal give me at least five
>examples of its proper use.
>
Ah, those Brits. I looked up the phrase in Fowler's _Modern English Usage_
and was referred to "petitio principii" - not the obvious place to look.
Fowler says: "The fallacy of founding a conclusion on a basis that as much
needs to be proved as the conclusion itself." He goes on to cite arguing in
a circle as a common variety and adds, "other (not circular) examples are
that capital punishment is necessary because without it murders would
increase, and that democracy must be the best form of government because
the majority are always right." BTW, arguing in a circle is another topic
in Fowler.
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
