circular reasoning

Description

A form of argument that mistakes returning to its own starting point for genuine progress. When asked for evidence, it cheerfully replies, “It’s true because it’s true,” thus trapping interlocutors in a never-ending circular chase. It promises eternal proof to those who cannot escape its self-referential maze. The single loop of reason only ends when the question swallows itself. Sincerity of logic is guaranteed, provided you never break free.

Definitions

• An epitome of logical go-rounds that places “of course it’s true” at every crucial step of a proof.
• A self-satisfied festival of “There is evidence because I said there is evidence.”
• A grand parade of arguments where the start and end points mirror one another.
• The ultimate art of nullifying counterarguments: “The reason is the proof itself.”
• An endless dance that makes premises the justification and justifications the premises.
• A logic ball where “Why?” and “Because!” take turns dancing.
• A wandering cave of dialogues that responds to every question with another question.
• Defensive thinking that constantly protects its evidence to safeguard the conclusion.
• A parrot-like device of thought that encloses itself within a self-referential microcosm.
• A hollow poem that mimics rationality only to glorify itself.

Examples

• “That doesn’t hold up?” “It does hold up, because it doesn’t not hold up.”
• “Where’s the evidence?” “The evidence is there, since I say the evidence is solid.”
• “Why is it correct?” “Because it’s correct.”
• “Your argument basis?” “The basis is the basis, so no problem.”
• “Will you accept counterarguments?” “I won’t, because I won’t.”
• “Explain in detail?” “Explanation completes itself by being an explanation.”
• “Why?” “Because why.”
• “Show me the proof?” “The proof is self-proving, can’t be externalized.”
• “What is your ground?” “The ground is the ground of the ground being grounded.”
• “What’s the conclusion?” “The conclusion is that which is called conclusion.”

Narratives

• In the boardroom, his argument began and, like a snake chasing its own tail, the same reason looped endlessly.
• At the end of the volume, the author proclaimed, “This book is the best because it says so in this very book.”
• Whenever the opponent sought an answer, circular reasoning led them through a maze without exit, like a guide to nowhere.
• The journey to truth was defined to end the moment it reached the answer one had initially proposed.
• Near the debate’s end, he triumphantly declared, “Here lies the beginning and the end of the answer.”
• In philosophy class, the blackboard read in bold: “Meaningful debate is meaningful because it’s meaningful.”
• Her argument entered an endless mode where questions could not cease, unstoppable Q&A.
• The conversation bore the seed of circularity, claiming start and finish simultaneously.
• Critics hunted for an exit, but the ring of revolving words spared not a single line.
• That proof was a gift promising eternal self-questioning.

Related Terms

Aliases

• Argument Ouroboros
• Tail-Chasing Logic
• Self-Proof Festival
• Circular Machine
• Reason Refrain
• Question Loop Gadget
• Maze Propaganda
• Roundabout Device
• One-Loop Truth
• Self-Praise Mechanism

Synonyms

• Rebuttal Reversal
• Eternal Reason
• Logic Loop
• Self-Reference Trap
• Infinite Ground Loop
• Perverse Argument
• No-Exit Q&A
• Void Proof
• Never-Ending Debate
• Labyrinth of Words