VICIOUS CIRCLE:
the logical FALLACY which involves supporting an argument by circular
reasoning where the conclusion has already been used to support a premise upon which the
conclusion is based. Generally it means using a statement to support a second statement
which is then taken without further evidence as proof of a third statement that says
essentially the same thing as the first statement. For example: one might argue that the
Beatles are better musicians than Bach because people who know about music prefer the
Beatles. When asked who these people are who know about music, one is told it is people
who listen to the Beatles. Usually such arguments are more complicated and confusing but
the principle is the same.
