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Definition of petitio principii in English:

petitio principii

Pronunciation /pəˌtiSHēō prinˈsipēˌī/ /pəˌtɪʃioʊ prɪnˈsɪpiˌaɪ/

noun

Logic

  • A fallacy in which a conclusion is taken for granted in the premises; begging the question.

    ‘This, with great respect, is a petitio principii - reasoning which assumes the very thing which requires decision.’
    • ‘Here I shall simply observe that the objection is a gross petitio principii.’

Origin

Latin, literally ‘laying claim to a principle’.