From: James Willson (jkvw3_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Feb 21 2003 - 03:31:29 PST
Alan Riddell is the winner of round 202 and is our new judge and wizard. 202:1 Steve Gardner VALID +1.0 2003-02-12 05:42:45 GMT 202:2 Alan Riddell VALID +1.5 2003-02-12 12:44:40 GMT 202:3 Ed Murphy INVALID +0.5 2003-02-13 06:04:19 GMT <202:1 Steve Gardner VALID +1.0 2003-02-12 05:42:45 GMT> A theme of 'begging the question' begs the question of what exactly is meant by 'begging the question', since the term is understood differently by different people. I propose that we settle, or at least explore, this question. Therefore, each Rule in this round should both suggest, and instantiate, an answer to this question, not necessarily the same answer! For myself, I propose that the authoritative answer to the question of what constitutes begging the question is to be found in that authoritative source for all FRC-related questions, the FRC Regulations. And what makes me think that that the FRC Regulations are the authoritative source for all FRC-related questions? It says so in the FRC Regulations! <Ruling> Does it suggest an answer? Pointing us to the "FRC Regulations" should be sufficient. How about the instantiation of an answer? This may be more tricky for me, as I'm not used to using the term in this less technical context, but there certainly appears to be an instantiation in the first clause of the first sentence. VALID, style +1.0 <202:2 Alan Riddell VALID +1.5 2003-02-12 12:44:40 GMT> Although Steve's Proposed answer to what is meant by "begging the question" is very well he is being slightly narrow minded, he should also use his commonsense. We should all use commonsense after all it is only sensible to do so. Commonsense tells me that to study this question I should consider the individual words then the phrase as a whole. Begging means to ask for charity. Question means an expression of inquiry that invites or calls for a reply. The Question implies it is the most important question namely "What is the meaning of life?", an to ask for charity from it must mean, to ask for help in finding meaning in your life. Future Rules shall point flaws in the answers given by other Rules. <Ruling> 202:1 gave an example of begging the question for some meaning of "begging the question", but also used the phrase "begging the question" in a context where it took on a specific meaning. 202:2 gives us an example, but no actual usage. Is that enough for "instantiation"? With uncertainty, I'll err on the side of validity. Of course, for all we know, "begging the question" could have any number of meanings, so this interpretation may make the instantiation requirement rather easy to follow. VALID; style +1.5 <202:3 Ed Murphy INVALID +0.5 2003-02-13 06:04:19 GMT> Begging the question is what one does in an argument when one assumes what one claims to be proving. This definition is taken from the Skeptic's Dictionary, and we all know that dictionaries are always right, right? If you're going to claim that something is in the FRC Regulations, then you really ought to specify /where/ in the FRC Regulations it is. (The definition given above is quoted verbatim from the URL http://skepdic.com/begging.html - main body of text - first paragraph.) Future rules will contain exactly one line less than the previous rule, unless some previous rule contains exactly one line. Brevity is the soul of wit, anyhow. <Ruling> 202:1 says rules "should" suggest and instantiate. 202:3 says you "ought to" specify. Are these requirements, or mere suggestions which can be ignored without pain of invalidity? Is there any difference between "should" and "ought to"?I think I'll read them as requirements. If this isn't how things "ought" to be handled here in FRC land, we'll probably have to fix it with a proposal, since I think I'm pushing the three day judging limit here. Anyway, by this reading, 202:3 is invalid since claims were made about things being in the FRC regulations in 201:1. INVALID; style +0.5 __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ -- Rule Date: 2003-02-21 11:31:40 GMT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Thu Nov 24 2011 - 10:48 PST