The phrase “begging the question” is a logical fallacy that occurs when an argument assumes the truth of the conclusion that it is trying to prove. In other words, the argument relies on a circular line of reasoning. For example, the argument “God exists because the Bible says so, and the Bible is true because it is the word of God” begs the question because it assumes the truth of the conclusion (God exists) in order to prove the truth of the premise (the Bible is true).
The fallacy of begging the question is a serious one because it can lead to people believing things that are not true. This is because when an argument begs the question, it is not actually providing any evidence to support its conclusion. Instead, it is simply restating the conclusion in a different way. This can make it difficult to see the flaws in the argument and can lead people to accept it as true.