Skippy Mini-Rant: Begging the question

Hi, folks. Skippy, here.

Okay, let's all start using the phrase correctly, shall we?

I can't stand the way she treats my friends, which begs the question, "Why don't you dump her ass?"

No. No, no, no, no, no. And once more for clarity: No!

"Begging the question" is a logical fallacy that refers to "logical" arguments in which the person making the argument assumes his conclusion is true, then uses that assumption to come to the conclusion that his conclusion is true. It is also called "circular reasoning." A, therefore A.

For example:

The Bible says God exists. The Bible must be right since it is the revealed word of God; therefore, God exists.

The fallacy, of course, is that you can't assume your conclusion during the statement of your argument. That's not how it works. How about this one?

If humans are putting out a high volume of greenhouse gases, then the global average temperature will rise. If the global average temperature rises, then glaciers will melt. If glaciers melt, then the sea level will rise. Humans are putting out too high a volume of greenhouse gases. That means that the global temperature is rising. And because of that, glaciers are melting. And because glaciers are melting, sea level is rising drastically. So humans are putting out too high a volume of greenhouse gases.

It's more subtle than the simple and direct argument presented first, but the real one that gets represented in the media is even more convoluted than the one I came up with, which is rather obvious, still. The point is the same, though: You can't assume your conclusion, then use that to prove that your conclusion is true. "A, therefore A" is still wrong even when you present it as "A, therefore B, therefore C, therefore D. Suppose A. Therefore B. Therefore C. Therefore D. Therefore A."

So what is the correct way to phrase the "you should dump her ass" example given at the top? Say that it "raises" the question, or "invites" the question. It doesn't "beg" the question.

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This has been a Kaa/Skippy Mini-Rant. Expect more of these on logical fallacies and general skepticism coming in the near future. Skippy's been on a rampage, lately.