The television news commentator summarizes Casey Anthony's activity for several weeks, then, after a pause, says, "...which begs the question, Where was the body during this time?" In living rooms around the country those who know what "begging the question" means (assuming in your premise what you purport to demonstrate in your conclusion) cry, "No, no, not again."
But it's actually a tough call. Nothing in the fallacy Aristotle identified goes with anything we today associate with begging. It does, maybe, if you put yourself back in the kind of arguments Greek philosophers used. "You are pleading with us to concede you the answer to the question before us, rather than have you argue for it." In other words, "You're no man mixing it up in the arena; you're a beggar with your hand out at the door." It's a great move, but you have to be into that kind of game. If you're not, there goes "begging."
Should we lament? No. Even if we hang on to it, even if we can put ourselves right back in the Athenian debating circle, we're in trouble. The word doesn't fit what we're doing. What we're really begging for there is an answer, the answer we prefer. The "question" refers to what's at issue. You can't beg for that. It's already in front of the company.
On the other hand everything in the news commentator's usage fits. What's doing the begging? All that evidence just reviewed, Casey driving around enjoying herself so. It's crying for somebody to ask, "Where was the body?" If it was in the trunk, oh, oh. Please, please, ask the question.
And then, in the sentence itself, all the conditions are satisfied. After that comma you've got to state the question. That noun has to have an appositive. Ah, there it is, "Where was the body?" In the old formulation you didn't state the question. You just stopped. You'd already put down your opponent. If he showed he didn't know what the question was he went further down. Everybody knew what the question was.
I say let's forget Aristotle. Or let him be remembered only by those knowingly engaged with each other in his kind of debate. Academics. For the rest of us, let begging be begging we can see and the question be a question we can hear. Modern usage should win this one.
