“Charles Bradlaugh, the noted English free-thinker, once engaged in a discussion with a dissenting minister. He insisted that the minister should answer questions by a simple yes or no, asserting that every question should be replied to in that manner.” The reverend gentleman arose and said, “Mr. Bradlaugh, will you allow me to ask you a question on these terms?” “Certainly,” said Mr. Bradlaugh. “Then, may I ask, have you given up beating your wife?” _Begging the Question_ (_Petitio Principii_). This is a fallacy _of deriving a conclusion from notions which in themselves demand proof_. The fallacy is not committed when the assertion is self-evident. It is easy to claim that our opponent is begging the question as soon as we see that he is getting the better of us. One may himself beg the question by being too ready to charge others with begging the question. When the opponent adopts premises which are commonly accepted, he does not beg the question. One commits the fallacy when he _seems to prove_ the conclusion more satisfactorily than he really does. This he may accomplish by covertly taking for granted the truth of notions which have not the stamp of universal approval. The fallacy of begging the question assumes three forms: (1) _The assumption of an unproved premise_ (_assumptio non probata_). In this either the major or the minor premise, or both may demand more substantial proof. It must be borne in mind, however, that the disputant must not ask for further proof after he has once accepted the premises, or after the opponent has met his demands to the satisfaction of commonly accepted authority. _Examples of begging the question by assuming unproved premises_: (a) All patriotic citizens are honest at heart, This man charged with graft is a patriotic citizen, ∴ This man charged with graft is honest at heart. “All patriotic citizens are honest at heart,” is not an accepted truth and thus demands proof. (b) A famous sophism of the Greek philosopher by which he proved that motion was impossible, is an excellent illustration of an assumed premise: “If motion is possible, a body must move either in the place where it is, or in the place where it is not; But a body cannot move in the place where it is; and of course it cannot move where it is not, Therefore, motion is impossible.” Referring to this, De Morgan claims “Movement is change, and so a body requires _two_ places in order to move.” _A body cannot move in the place where it is, but must be moved from place to place._ The major premise being assumed, this sophism illustrates the fallacy of begging the question. (c) The most subtle form of begging the question is an enthymeme where the suppressed premise is the one assumed; e. g., “You, being a teacher, should not do as other people do.”