College Composition / Unit 30 CMP 0739 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Circular Reasoning
Captions available
The idea
A circular argument restates what it has already said instead of giving a reason for it.
In practice
"The book is well written because its author is a good novelist" offers the claim again as its own proof.
Where people slip
Test a reason by asking whether it says anything new; a circular reason does not.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
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