circular definition
[/ˈsɜːrkjələr ˌdefɪˈnɪʃən/]
nounpl: circular definitions
definição circular
1. A definition in which the term being defined is used in the definition itself, making it logically invalid or uninformative
Defining 'run' as 'to run quickly' is a circular definition because it uses the word being defined within its own definition.
Definir 'correr' como 'mover-se rapidamente correndo' é uma definição circular porque usa a palavra sendo definida dentro de sua própria definição.
2. A form of logical fallacy where the definition assumes knowledge of the term it is attempting to explain
The teacher criticized the student's circular definition of honesty as 'being honest'.
A professora criticou a definição circular do aluno de honestidade como 'ser honesto'.
This term is primarily used in academic, philosophical, and educational contexts in both English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries. It is a critical concept in logic, linguistics, and debate, often highlighted as a fundamental error in argumentation and definition-making.
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