Off season philosophy

[e_blazer]

Actually, I found Rasta's post edifying. I just couldn't pass up a chance to use Colonel Klink.

 

[The Dude]

No, it does not "beg" the question (pet peeve). It RAISES the question. It prompts you to ASK the question. Just not begs it.

And that's not a simple question to answer, because "best" and "available" are so fluid. Among the best FAs is Kevin Garnett - still an elite defender, ferocious competitor and beloved teammate. But he's old as dirt, so in the long run he's not best.

Also, who's available depends on how persuasive our GM is and how stupid their GM is.

The Dude normally hates this, but this is interesting. I was reading and looking at some older threads. Some people don't like players from certain schools, so would it beg the question as to why?

 

[jlprk]

Stop begging the question all the time. Begging the question is of the devil.

 

[KingSpeed]

I can't help it, it's just a disease. I can imagine what people with perfect pitch must feel like at a karaoke night.

Also I actually teach classes that talk about the real fallacy. That little graphic doesn't get it quite right: begging the question is when you assume as a premise exactly what you're trying to prove. Circular reasoning is a variant, like if I said I know that God exists because it says so in the Bible, which has to be true, because it's the word of God.

Give an example of the correct use of "begs the question."

 

[e_blazer]

After having given this the 1.5 minutes of Google research that it demands, I've come to the conclusion that Rasta knows whereof he speaks.

"Begging the question" is a term from logic. The "question" being "begged" is, "Where's the logical support for your premise?" An example: Someone says, "Eating chocolate is good for you because it grows on trees and is organic." That statement "begs the question", "Where's your logical support for the premise that everything that grows on trees and is organic is healthful?" Obviously, there is no logical support for the statement. Many things that are organic and/or grow on trees will make you sick or even kill you.

To put it in basketball terms, to say, "LeBron James wore ugly-assed MVP shoes last night so the Heat lost." begs the question, "Where's the logical support for the premise that ugly-assed MVP shoes make a team lose?"

 

[e_blazer]

^

Exactly.