Example Claim: We should do good rather than evil

Why?

Example Reason: Because it is better to do good than evil.

The example reason given actually leaves the question unanswered thus "begs the question"

HTH

Assume for the point. Suppose the following argument:

1) Abortion is murder.

2) Murder is immoral.

-----------------------------

Therefore, abortion of immoral.

The argument would be begging the question, as no one denies murder to be immoral; the first premise simply assumes for the conclusion, as though we all agree abortion is murder. His first premise assumes for the point of the conclusion.

Likewise, begging the question can happen when doing thought experiments. For example, suppose that we are arguing a metaphysical position of naturalism. If I do a thought experiment about a type of "beaming" (like from Star Trek) by saying, "Imagine our bodies are destroyed and then remade at a separate place instantaneously, with personality in tact.", and then use this as support for naturalism, it would be begging the question: being able to reconstruct one's personality in naturalistic means in the thought experiment is simply begging the question, as a non-naturalist would simply deny naturalism and the thought experiment all together. In other words, the thought experiment did nothing to support naturalism, but simply assumed that it was true.

This is similar to circular reasoning, but different. Circular reasoning is when one uses supporting evidence to enforce a position, but the position enforces the evidence.

It's the concept, that men should be the ones whom propose for marriage.

That's probably because men handle rejection better.

An unparalleled compilation of answers to this question :)