6. “Begging the question” is another form of faulty reasoning. The French comedian Sacha Guitny drew a picture in which three thieves are arguing over the distribution of seven pearls.

The shrewdest thief gives two pearls to each of his partners in crime. One of the thieves inquires: “Why do you keep three pearls?” He answers that it is because he is the leader. The other asks “Why are you the leader?” Calmly, he responds “Because I have more pearls.”

a. Comment on the lack of validity in this type of argument.

b. Give two additional examples of “begging the question.”