(Wikipedia screenshot.) The original phrase used by Aristotle from which begging the question descends is τὸ ἐξ ἀρχῆς αἰτεῖν, or sometimes ἐν ἀρχῇ αἰτεῖν, 'asking for the initial thing'. Aristotle's intended meaning is closely tied to the type of dialectical argument he discusses in his Topics, book VIII: a formalized debate in which the defending party asserts a thesis that the attacking party must attempt to refute by asking yes-or-no questions and deducing some inconsistency between the responses and the original thesis. In this stylized form of debate, the proposition that the answerer undertakes to defend is called 'the initial thing' (Ancient Greek: τὸ ἐξ ἀρχῆς, τὸ ἐν ἀρχῇ) and one of the rules of the debate is that the questioner cannot simply ask (beg) for it [clarification needed] (that would be trivial and uninteresting). Aristotle discusses this in Sophistical Refutations and in Prior Analytics book II, (64b, 34–65a 9, for circular reasoning see 57b, 18–59b, 1). The stylized dialectical exchanges Aristotle discusses in the Topics included rules for scoring the debate, and one important issue was precisely the matter of asking for the initial thing—which included not just making the actual thesis adopted by the answerer into a question, but also making a question out of a sentence that was too close to that thesis (for example, PA II 16).

Should I... should I understand ancient Greek debates as panel shows?

If politics are going crazy in several European countries one after the other, I think it is time to go past blaming the failures of individual political actors (and there are quite a few, both in the UK and France) to looking at the systemic pressures our political systems are failing to deal with.

Being accountable to an international court means our Government has to answer to them if it tries to undermine your human rights. Be very suspicious of any UK politician who wants to remove that check on their powers.

Share this and speak up for your freedoms.

Zack on Bold Politics podium

I'm Jewish. I'm also Mancunian.

Every other national party leader was interviewed by Laura Kunesberg during their conference.

Maybe the BBC thought as someone who also supports Palestine - I had nothing to say?

Let's keep growing: join.greenparty.org.uk

Absolutely maddening that this isn't a bigger news story outside of NI tbh. Loyalists are literally threatening to burn shit down over dual language signage, but Palestine Action are the big scary terrorists that we all need to be talking about, right?

The only centrism I care for or want is the perfect blend of grindcore and yacht rock.

Castle Rat

Castle Rat

Castle Rat

Castle Rat

Castle Rat was awesome tonight in Houston.

Blue splatter vinyl and album cover for Solicitor - Enemy in Mirrors.

Speeeeeeed!

Acid Bath tour announcement for March 28th, 2026 at White Oak Music Hall in Houston. Presale code WOMH26.

Finally a Houston show announcement.

40 years ago today…https://www.ranker.com/list/dee-snyder-speech-parents-music-resource-center/melissa-sartore

My son Jesse is working on something cool. It’s ROCK MUSIC recorded in SOUND HEALING FREQUENCIES.
His campaign on Kickstarter just launched a few days ago & he’s already halfway there. If you’re of the mind help him over the top!

kickstarter.com/projects/bldst… (kickstarter.com/projects/bldst���)

TWISTED SISTER Confirmed As Third Headliner For Copenhell 2026; SEPULTURA, QUEENSRŸCHE, SIX FEET UNDER And More Added To Bill Organizers have announced Twisted Sister as the third headliner for Copenhell 2026, taking place June 24-27 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Organizers issued the following update: Copenhell announces Twisted ...

TWISTED SISTER Confirmed As Third Headliner For Copenhell 2026 - Brave Words - goo.gl/alerts/GRV7tq

We're like 10 days out from either leaked group chats from admin embracing Nazism or them just openly posting about it on here in an effort to get everyone to leave

#BigGavPlays Cathedral - Society's Pact With Satan

New release of their last ever recording from 2012

A 30 minute monster

Today is a great day to be alive

#NowPlaying #MetalSky #Doom

Awesome. I get it. I remember being alerted to Earth Crisis by Terrorizer, went to see them in '97 I think at the old LA2. It died since, but I got a great shirt from that gig with Wolverine on it and the line "forgiveness denied!" Years since I've listen to EC...

Interesting perspective. I live in a house of both - my partner Fluffy Saigon is a total politics junkie, also plays D&D: we both trad metal in various swordy forms, though it's not our "main thing".

I have SO much HC to dig further into. Getting the XXX Fanzine collection expanded the list...

No worries: it's definitely a comment some made at the time. I think 2 things on this score looking from today:

1) Akercocke were always special. Visceral, evil, convicted. I thought they were ace all the way to the end, and progressed beautifully.

2) Cryptopsy since The Unspoken King? Ugh.

None So Vile and Whisper Supremacy are the best place to start, IMO. Diff vocalists, both awesome. I am still waiting for someone to unearth live recordings of them with Mike DiSalvo. I missed it but their 1997 MDF performance is hallowed among my CoC peers who witnessed it.

Reckon this might have been back in the early 'Cocke days, if it was Harry that said it. Harry did an awesome piece on the 'Cocke for Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Ho Undone which ran in Terrorizer, so I think at the very least he changed his tune...

Wow, this I can't let stand.

Akercocke have aged like wine - I am biased: liked them from the start & have history with em. Listening to Goat of Mendes now is close to revelatory.

They were playing catchup - circa RotBN they'd not heard Nile! - but I say they're one of the '00s true DM greats.

I can't remember, though I think it was Harry Hinchliffe that said it. I wrote a few reviews for his zine back then.

a man in a black hat says well that is good news is n't it ALT: a man in a black hat says well that is good news is n't it

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the Ted Talk and we always love to hear that we're encouraging people to revisit the Blackadder canon.

I may well do a voice message another time. I very much enjoyed the Father Ted episode - my son did not join me to listen this time around - and also your Baldrick episode. Reminded me I'm due a rewatch of all four series!

Will listen. Father Ted is sitcom gold, at least equal to Blackadder IMO. My son loves it - he is 12 now, was 10 when first exposed. I watched Blackadder 2 to 4 with my folks as it released. My dad discovered and taped Father Ted and Red Dwarf for me: good parenting has many faces.

Bonus Episode 06 - "Ted Talk", on Father Ted | Lord of Adders Black

In this special “Ted Talk”, we examine why an oddball comedy about three priests on a remote island should strike such a chord with audiences

And Fearghal from bsky.app/profile/feck... pops in to share a few insights about the innate Irishness of Father Ted.

shows.acast.com/663dc3b21f99...

In a perfect world, I’d capture every moment of my painting process. The camera poses challenges when working so small. Too far away, and you can’t see what’s happening. Too close, and it’s a pain to see and work around.

Still looking forward to filming future projects.

I love the title "Shark Heaven". I would listen to anything titled "Shark Heaven"... unless its Ska.

Pleasure. The Listening Party just finished. Some lovely stuff in the chat: their daughter Lydia sang on the record, was 5-years-old at the time. I like @bandcamp.com listening parties!