Circular reasoning

Circular reasoning

Circular reasoning is a formal logical fallacy in which the proposition to be proved is assumed implicitly or explicitly in one of the premises. For example:

"Only an untrustworthy person would run for office. The fact that politicians are untrustworthy is proof of this."

Such an argument is fallacious, because it relies upon its own proposition — "politicians are untrustworthy" — in order to support its central premise. Essentially, the argument assumes that its central point is already proven, and uses this in support of itself.

Circular reasoning is different from the informal logical fallacy "begging the question", as it is fallacious due to a flawed logical structure and not the individual falsity of an unstated hidden co-premise as begging the question is.

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • circular reasoning — index non sequitur Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • circular reasoning/definition — See circle, vicious …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Circular — is a basic geometric shape such as a Circle. Contents 1 Documents 2 Travel and transportation 3 Places …   Wikipedia

  • Reasoning — is the cognitive process of looking for reasons for beliefs, conclusions, actions or feelings. [ Kirwin, Christopher. 1995. Reasoning . In Ted Honderich (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Philosophy . Oxford: Oxford University Press: p. 748] Humans… …   Wikipedia

  • Circular — Cir cu*lar, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round. [1913 Webster] 2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Circular are — Circular Cir cu*lar, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round. [1913 Webster] 2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Circular cubics — Circular Cir cu*lar, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round. [1913 Webster] 2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Circular functions — Circular Cir cu*lar, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round. [1913 Webster] 2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Circular instruments — Circular Cir cu*lar, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round. [1913 Webster] 2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Circular lines — Circular Cir cu*lar, a. [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See {Circle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round. [1913 Webster] 2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”