A circular definition is one that uses the term(s) being defined as a part of the definition or assumes a prior understanding of the term being defined. There are several kinds of circular definition, and several ways of characterising the term: pragmatic, lexicographic and linguistic.
Approaches to characterizing circular definitions
From a pragmatic point of view, circular definitions may be characterised in terms of new, useful or helpful information: either the audience must already know the meaning of the key term(s), or the definition is deficient in including the term(s) to be defined in the definition itself. Such definitions lead to a need for additional information that motivated someone to look at the definition in the first place and, thus, violate the principle of providing new or useful information. If someone wants to know what a cellular phone is, telling them that it is a "phone that is cellular" will not be especially illuminating. Much more helpful would be to explain the concept of a cell in the context of telecommunications, or at least to make some reference to portability. Similarly, defining dialectical materialism as "materialism that involves dialectic" is unhelpful. For another example, we can define "oak" as a tree which has catkins and grows from an acorn, and then define "acorn" as the nut produced by an oak tree. To someone who does not know which trees are oaks, nor which nuts are acorns, the definition is inadequate. Consequently, many systems of definitions are constructed according to the vicious circle principle in such a way that authors do not produce viciously circular definitions.
HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has issued a circular regulating 145 statistical indicators for sustainable development in Việt Nam ... The circular will take effect on March 10.
In an X post, the data research and analytics platform enumerated the top 10 crypto token projects with the highest value to be unlocked this month, adding that the list includes Aptos, CircularProtocol, and Arbitrum.
The CircularRing 2 addresses many of my issues with the previous model ... Circular. I was not at all impressed with the Circular RingSlim ... Circular’s AI chatbotKira has also been revamped ... Circular This definitely looks nicer than plastic.
AURORA—By definition, a “roundabout is a circular intersection where traffic flows in one direction around a central island” designed to make for smoother traffic flow and fewer vehicle crashes ... .
— AFP/File...Back in 2008, the SBP, through a circular, revised the definition of ‘Advances’ and ‘Deposits’ to calculate the ADR, where the SBP excluded certain advances and included all deposits for the calculation, said Topline Securities in a note ... .
Observing, 'what's in a name, it is the work that matters…'', the Bombay High Court on Friday quashed a July 2018 notification of the Maharashtra charity commissioner that directed non-governmental ...
This adjustment follows representations from the Brokers’ IndustryStandardsForum (ISF), which highlighted practical challenges in enforcing unique contact details across all scenarios.Definition of ...
The definition of "plastic pollution" also remained bracketed ... The treaty must go beyond waste management to address the entire lifecycle of plastics," said Swati Singh Sambyal, Waste and Circular Economy Expert, GRID-Arendal.
It distracts me from my situation and connects me to a world beyond my circular thoughts ... While nervous, before the date of the move I experienced a definite uptick in mood. This began to fade once we pulled on to the NorthCircular.
It distracts me from my situation and connects me to a world beyond my circular thoughts ... While nervous, before the date of the move I experienced a definite uptick in mood. This began to fade once we pulled on to the NorthCircular.
The IMF expressed worries about Punjab's new agriculture income tax legislation, which remains misaligned with federal laws and deviates from the National Fiscal Pact, according to The Express...
A definition of "directly attributable" was added to refer to goods and services that are incidental to and reasonably necessary for the export activity of the export-oriented enterprise ... (RevenueMemorandumCircular No.
The definitive terms of the SpinoutTransaction are expected to be contained in a management information circular delivered to shareholders in connection with the meeting to approve the Spinout Transaction.
... investigations or news reporting.” While “cyberbullying” appears in the definitions section of section 2, this “definition” merely repeats the language of section 7 in a circular manner, he explained.
There is no clear definitions of hate and gender ... A circular definition of “hate” and special treatment for those of “protected characteristics” in the new Irish hate crime bill.
Mesabi Daily News
14 Dec 2024
Mesabi Daily News
14 Dec 2024