<p><br>
On 21 May 2012 03:39, "Steven D&apos;Aprano" <<a href="mailto:steve@pearwood.info">steve@pearwood.info</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
> boB Stepp wrote:</p>
<p><snip></p>
<p>>> now on learning an IDE if it will save me time overall. IF it would be<br>
>> beneficial now to learn an IDE, then it begs the question <br>
><br>
><br>
> No it doesn't. It RAISES the question -- begging the question means to *assume the answer in the question*, and it is a logical fallacy.<br>
><br>
> "Notepad is the best editor, because no other editor is as good as Notepad" is begging the question.<br></p>
<p>Steven,</p>
<p>I am a philospher of logic and mathematics. Everytime I encounter 'begs the question' used in the way which you here resist, a little piece inside me dies. Thanks for fighting the good fight!</p>
<p>However, as I hear this on the BBC and CBC Radio, and read it in periodicals I think ought be edited by those who know better, I confess I feel the worthy battle is lost.</p>
<p>As W.V.O. Quine said:</p>
<p> We cannot stem the tide of linguistic<br>
change, but we can drag our feet.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<p>Brian vdB<br>
</p>