circularities
Reasoning that recurses
Circularities are instances of circular reasoning or self-referential logic—arguments that assume what they're trying to prove, or systems that loop back on themselves.
The term appears in philosophy, mathematics, and criticism of flawed arguments: The report was full of circularities that made it impossible to evaluate.
More loosely, circularities can describe any redundant or cyclical patterns: the circularities of bureaucratic procedure.
Circular bands worn
- loopsSelf-crossing curved shapes
- orbitsCurved paths around bodies
- cyclesRecurring sequences of events
- rotationTurning on an axis
circuit · arc · circumference · annulus · gyre · wheel · spiral · revolution
Needless duplication
- reiterationSaying something again
- iterationRepeated procedural pass
- recurrenceReturn of something previous
- restatementRewording of something said
echo · rehash · duplication · repetitiveness · reoccurrence · cycle · loop · reprise
Redundant or circular statement
- begging the questionAssuming what needs proof
- self-referencePointing to oneself
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
- infinite regressUnending causal chain
fallacy · bootstrapping · recursion · self-justification · closed loop · presupposition · question-begging · reflexivity
Lack of purpose
- pointlessnessState of lacking meaning
- fruitlessnessLack of productive outcome
- purposelessnessState of lacking intention
- meaninglessnessLack of significance
dead end · wheel-spinning · stagnation · impasse · ineffectuality · going nowhere · Sisyphean · treadmill
Self-perpetuating harmful pattern
- feedback loopSelf-modifying cyclical process
- downward spiralSelf-reinforcing deterioration
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
snowball effect · chain reaction · tailspin · reinforcement · self-perpetuating · compounding · spiral · entrenchment
rings
Circular bands worn
rotation · circuit · arc · circumference · annulus · gyre · wheel · spiral · revolution · roundness
redundancy
Needless duplication
- reiterationSaying something again
- iterationRepeated procedural pass
- recurrenceReturn of something previous
restatement · echo · rehash · duplication · repetitiveness · reoccurrence · cycle · loop · reprise · pleonasm
tautology
Redundant or circular statement
- begging the questionAssuming what needs proof
- self-referencePointing to oneself
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
infinite regress · fallacy · bootstrapping · recursion · self-justification · closed loop · presupposition · question-begging · reflexivity · self-validation
futility
Lack of purpose
- pointlessnessState of lacking meaning
- fruitlessnessLack of productive outcome
- purposelessnessState of lacking intention
meaninglessness · dead end · wheel-spinning · stagnation · impasse · ineffectuality · going nowhere · Sisyphean · treadmill · hamster wheel
vicious cycle
Self-perpetuating harmful pattern
- feedback loopSelf-modifying cyclical process
- downward spiralSelf-reinforcing deterioration
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
escalation · snowball effect · chain reaction · tailspin · reinforcement · self-perpetuating · compounding · spiral · entrenchment
circularitieslinearities
States of being straight
straight lines · angularities · right angles · straight edges
circularitieslinearity
Straight-path property
straight lines · directness · forward motion · irreversibility · vectors
circle, circular, circulate, circulation, circulating, circulated, circulates, circulatory, circularity