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2.3.5: “Question-begging” Arguments

  • Page ID
    90138
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    Many common arguments about abortion are what’s called “question-begging,” which means the reason given for the conclusion assumes that conclusion. This means that you wouldn’t accept the reason as a good reason to believe the conclusion unless you already believed that conclusion! This is circular reasoning, and arguments like this are always bad.

    “Against” Abortion

    Many common arguments against abortion are question begging. Here are some: Abortion – killing fetuses to end pregnancies is wrong because:

    1. abortion is murder;
    2. abortion is killing babies or children;
    3. adoption is a better option than abortion;
    4. pregnant women just must keep the pregnancy and give birth; (5) abortion should not be used as ‘birth control’;
    5. women who have abortions are irresponsible;
    6. a good person wouldn’t have an abortion;
    7. women who have abortions feel guilty.

    These premises all assume that abortion is wrong. To explain:

    1. assumes that killing fetuses is wrong, since “murder” means wrongful killing;
    2. assumes that fetuses are like babies and children and so are similarly wrong to kill; assumes that abortion is a worse or bad option, since it assumes it is wrong;
    3. assumes that women must not have abortions since it assumes they are wrong;
    4. assumes that abortion is wrong: but if it is not wrong, while it might not be an ideal form of “birth control” it could permissibly be used for that purpose;
    5. assumes that women who have abortions are doing what they are not supposed to do, doing wrong, and so are “irresponsible”;
    6. assumes that abortion is wrong and so good people, who avoid wrongdoing, wouldn’t have one;
    7. assumes that abortion is wrong and so assumes that some women feel guilty because they have done something wrong: however, people can feel guilty even if they haven’t done anything wrong, so guilt feelings aren’t perfect evidence of wrongdoing (just as not feeling guilty doesn’t mean you did something that was OK).

    People would believe these claims only if they already believed abortion is wrong, so these claims should not sway anyone who wants to think critically about the issues.

    “For” Abortion

    People who think abortion should be allowed also sometimes give question-begging arguments. Here are a few:
    Abortion is not wrong because:

    1. abortion is a personal choice; couples should be able to make that choice;
    2. women have a (moral) right to have abortions;
    3. women have the right to do what they want with their bodies;
    4. well, if you don’t like abortions, then don’t have one!
    5. those who oppose abortions just want to control women. These premises likewise assume their conclusions.

    To explain:

    1. the idea of a “personal choice” seems to be a choice that’s not wrong to make: e.g., we wouldn’t call a choice to be an ax-murderer a “personal choice” because that’s wrong, whereas what color socks to wear is a “personal choice.” So claims like this seem to just assume that abortion is not wrong or that it should be legal;

    2. sometimes when people say that they have a moral right to do something, they are merely saying that it’s not wrong for them to do it. So this claim amounts to saying that abortion is not wrong because it’s not wrong, which is question-begging. (If it’s explained why women have this right, the argument might cease to be question-begging, however);

    3. there are limits to rights, and sometimes we don’t have the right to do what’s wrong. If abortion were wrong, then perhaps women wouldn’t have the right to have them, and this claim just assumes abortions are not wrong;

    4. consider an analogous slogan, “Don’t like arson? Then don’t burn down any buildings!” This is absurd, because arson is wrong, and we don’t offer slogans like this about actions that are wrong. “Don’t like strawberries? Then don’t eat them!” makes sense since not eating strawberries is not wrong. The slogan here assumes that abortion is not wrong;

    5. since some wrongdoing should be “controlled,” those who offer this reason might merely assume that abortion is not a type of wrongdoing that should be illegal. They are also focusing on other people’s motives, which is often unwise: people who allegedly wish to “control” women might respond or suspect that abortion advocates are motivated by the desire to “engage in immorality without consequences!” (Is that true? No, pro-choice advocates argue.) Accusations about motives are fruitless: it’s better to engage the basic questions of whether abortion is wrong or not and why, like we are doing here, instead of speculating about motives.

    Question-begging arguments are common, on many issues – not just abortion, and they should be rejected, by everyone, always.


    2.3.5: “Question-begging” Arguments is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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