Rigorous Reasoning

Concept · Foundations

Circularity

A defect in which the definiens depends on the very concept it is supposed to explain — directly or through near-synonyms.

Why it matters

Circular definitions fail to illuminate the target concept.

Where this shows up

Units and lessons using this concept

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Related

Other concepts in Foundations

A, E, I, O PropositionsAccessibility RelationArgumentAtomic StatementAuthorial IntentBase RateBayes FactorBurden of Proof in InterpretationCalibrationCardinalityCartesian ProductCategorical Proposition