petitio principii
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /pɪtɪʃiəʊ prɪnsɪpiaɪ/
  • (GA) enPR: pə-tĭshʹē-ōʹ prĭn-sĭpʹē-īʹ, IPA: /pɪtɪʃioʊ prɪnsɪpiaɪ/
Noun

petitio principii

  1. (philosophy, logic, uncountable) The logical fallacy of begging the question.
  2. (philosophy, logic, countable) A particular argument which commits the fallacy of begging the question; a circular argument.
    • 1869, C. S. Pierce, "Grounds of Validity of the laws of Logic: Further Consequences of Four Incapacities." Journal of Speculative Philosophy.
      A somewhat similar objection has been made by Locke and others, to the effect that the ordinary demonstrative syllogism is a petitio principii.
    • 1938, E. Prokosch, A Comparative Germanic Grammar.
      The Streitberg-Michels Theory is evidently a petitio principii. To explain ē in gēbum, it is from the outset taken for granted, for inadequate reasons of method, that the form must be a perfect. [italics original]



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