Circular Argument

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When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I invite people to consider thinking and beliefs which are rational (in accordance with both logic and reason). Because I don’t assume that people know specific terms, allow me to define them.

First, it may be worthwhile to distinguish between thoughts and beliefs. A thought is an individual act or product of thinking. A belief is a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in a person or thing.

Whereas a thought is merely a fleeting idea, a belief is a thought that one strongly holds as true and that influences one’s perspective and behavior. Essentially, a belief is a thought that has been affirmed and integrated into one’s cognitive framework. It’s considered true, though not perfect.

Second, I draw a distinction between description and prescription. A description is simply a thought or discourse intended to give a mental image of something experienced. On the other hand, a prescription is the thought or action of laying down authoritative rules or directions.

Last, logic is the interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable, and reason is a statement offered in explanation or justification. For instance, a modus ponens syllogism uses the logical form: If p, then q; p; therefore, q.

In order to provide an adequate example, some context is needed. Recently, journalist Glenn Greenwald interviewed United States (U.S.) Senator Rand Paul on an episode of System Update. During that time, Senator Paul stated about U.S. military strikes on alleged drug traffickers:

That legal framework and that precedent has allowed President Trump to say, ‘Look, everybody knows this… they’re terrorists.’ And it’s this circular argument. Who are terrorists? ‘Well, the people I tell you who are terrorists.’

And what are terrorists? ‘They’re people who kill people in a terroristic way. And they’re terrorists, because I tell you they do this.’ It’s this circular argument with no proof presented.

But there is a real problem with it and the thing they can’t overcome is that we do this in a normal fashion. Twenty-five percent of the boats boarded are innocent. And I guess what gets me about my colleagues is they seem to think that these people are less than human. They’re not even deserving of the respect of animals—just kill ‘em.

Senator Paul raises a considerable moral and ethical issue with how the Trump administration is attempting to justify military action in Venezuela, in international waters, and regarding so-called narcoterrorism. In specific, one source states:

Circular reasoning (also known as circular logic) is a logical fallacy in which the reasoner begins with what they are trying to end with. Circular reasoning is not a formal logical fallacy, but a pragmatic defect in an argument whereby the premises are just as much in need of proof or evidence as the conclusion.

As a consequence, the argument becomes a matter of faith and fails to persuade those who do not already accept it. Other ways to express this are that there is no reason to accept the premises unless one already believes the conclusion, or that the premises provide no independent ground or evidence for the conclusion.

Circular reasoning is closely related to begging the question, and in modern usage the two generally refer to the same thing. Circular reasoning is often of the form: “A is true because B is true; B is true because A is true.”

Circularity can be difficult to detect if it involves a longer chain of propositions. An example of circular reasoning is: “This statement is correct because it says it is correct.”

Now, consider a modus ponens syllogism (if p, then q; p; therefore, q). If whoever the Trump administration kills is labeled a terrorist (p), then the decedents were terrorists (q). Whoever the Trump administration kills is labeled a terrorist (p). Therefore, the decedents were terrorists (q).

Suppose you accept this circular argument, as you don’t support terrorism (the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims). Then, I ask what political and ideological aims are used by cartels, drug gangs, or state-sponsored drug traffickers?

These entities have monetary motivation, not terroristic aims. If you accept the irrationality of the Trump administration’s apparent circular argument, as outlined by Senator Paul, then I encourage you to play that argument through to its logical conclusion:

If whoever the Trump administration kills is labeled a terrorist, then the decedents were terrorists. If the nation states from where the terroristic decedents originated oppose actions taken by the Trump administration, then those nations are terroristic nations.

If those are nations of terror, then the U.S. has a moral and ethical obligation to engage in hostile activity against those sovereign nation states. If the Trump administration is able to do this without authorization from Congress when terror is evoked, then we’re going to war with Venezuela.   

If the U.S. Constitution doesn’t give the Trump administration the right to wage war on Venezuela, then any member of Congress who rejects the militaristic action will be accused of supporting terrorism. When they’re accused of being terrorist sympathizers, they will be labeled terrorists.

Do you see how the circular argument can lead to irrational and potentially deadly outcomes? The founders of this country couldn’t possibly have predicted all the ways in which future presidents would abuse constitutional rights.

Still, they laid the foundational framework for rationality. This is why due process of law (the application by the state of all legal rules and principles pertaining to a case so all legal rights that are owed to a person are respected) forbids U.S. presidents from bombing boats as is being done.

The loophole through which the Trump administration has squeezed regards terrorism. And terrorism is ostensibly whatever President Trump says it is. This means that alleged criminals within the U.S. could also be regarded as terrorists if or when officials apply this argument.

Therefore, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding about thinking and believing which is rational (or irrational) is a useful undertaking. If for nothing more than to prevent others from being able to gaslight you about apparent murder in international waters, you can ward off delusion.

Of course, you’re welcome to allow yourself to be deluded by circular arguments. Besides, it’s not as though you’ve ever broken a law before. Right? Right!? You’re not a terrorist, even though circular arguments used by the Trump administration essentially equate criminality to terrorism.

I imagine that you can probably do without the perceivably pessimistic perspective espoused herein. In fact, I’m likely wrong, because you believe I’m wrong. How do you know I’m wrong? Because you believe I’m wrong! (Do you see how this works?)

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

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