circular argument

English

Alternative forms

• circular logic

Noun

circular argument (plural circular arguments)

1. (informal) A term often conflated with begging the question in philosophy.
2. (philosophy, logic) An argument which commits the logical fallacy of assuming what it is attempting to prove.
   • 2004 Nov, M Bergmann, “Epistemic Circularity: Malignant and Benign.”, in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, volume 69, number 3, p. 710 n3:

     A logically circular argument’s conclusion is included as one of its premises.

Usage notes

In informal usage, circular argument is synonymous with begging the question; in formal usage, these are distinct.

Synonyms

• circular reasoning
• (informal, logic) begging the question
• petitio principii

Related terms

• epistemic circularity

Translations

a type of argument

• Danish: cirkelslutning c
• Dutch: cirkelredenering (nl) f
• Finnish: kehäpäätelmä (fi)
• Galician: argumento circular m
• German: Zirkelschluss (de) m, Zirkelbeweis m
• Hungarian: körben forgó érvelés (hu), körkörös érvelés
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: sirkelargument n

• Romanian: argument circular n
• Spanish: argumento circular m
• Swedish: cirkelargument n, cirkelbevis (sv) n
• Turkish: kapalı döngü