Question

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Could this be begging the question?

P1: All the people at the table had their heads shaved. 
P2: Jim was at the table. 
C: Therefore, Jim had his head shaved. 

asked on Monday, Dec 06, 2021 01:13:41 AM by

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Answers

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Jason Mathias
1

Nope, its a logically valid argument. 

All X have Y.

Thing 1 is an X. 

Therefore, thing 1 has Y. 

answered on Monday, Dec 06, 2021 04:12:57 PM by Jason Mathias

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TrappedPrior (RotE)
1

Nope, the category X (people at the table) has property Y (they are shaven). If A is a member of X, then A has property Y by definition. The argument works.

Is it assuming the truth of premise 1? Yes, but that isn't what begging the question is. It's a question of whether P1 is a valid observation or not.

answered on Monday, Dec 06, 2021 07:04:43 AM by TrappedPrior (RotE)

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TrappedPrior (RotE)
1

Seems  to be a valid Modus Ponens argument. to me. The antecedent (being at the table) is affirmed. Is it actually true that Jim is at the table? If so, then the poor guy is bald.

answered on Monday, Dec 06, 2021 04:40:22 AM by TrappedPrior (RotE)

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