The following arguments each commit a distinct variation of circular reasoning (begging the question). Pair each argument with the precise description of how its circularity is constructed.
- The new city curfew policy is inherently oppressive, because it is fundamentally tyrannical to restrict citizens' evening movements in this manner.Attempts to support a position by restating the conclusion using synonymous vocabulary.
- The ancient manuscript must be completely historically accurate. We can be certain of this because the manuscript itself states that it is an infallible record of past events, and a historically accurate text would never contain falsehoods.Relies on a piece of evidence whose own credibility depends entirely on the assumption that the conclusion is true.
- It is impossible for humans to act purely out of altruism. Even when people appear to sacrifice for others, they are simply doing what brings them the most internal satisfaction, meaning all actions are ultimately self-serving.Defines a key behavioral concept in such a way that the conclusion is logically guaranteed regardless of empirical observation.
- Our new lie detection software is flawlessly accurate. We verified this by having it analyze 50 statements; it identified 20 as lies, and since the software correctly identifies every lie, those 20 statements were definitively false, thus proving the software's perfect track record.Uses an instrument's own unverified output as the empirical evidence to demonstrate that the instrument itself is reliable.
Answer
The curfew argument matches with synonymous restatement. The manuscript argument matches with evidential dependency. The altruism argument matches with a definitional guarantee. The lie detector argument matches with unverified output justification.
Each argument commits a specific structural variation of begging the question. By mapping the premise-conclusion relationship in each, we can see exactly how the flaw operates: synonymous phrasing, evidence that assumes the conclusion, definitional tricks to guarantee the outcome, and using an instrument's own unverified output to prove its reliability.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Circular Reasoning (Begging the Question)
Estimated Time:1m 30s