Which term describes a fallacy where the premise already contains the conclusion, offering no new information?

Which term describes a fallacy where the premise already contains the conclusion, offering no new information?

• A. Circular reasoning
• B. Ad hominem
• C. Slippery slope
• D. False dichotomy

Answer: (A)

Circular reasoning is a fallacy where the premise already contains the conclusion, offering no new information. In this pattern, the argument relies on its own conclusion as evidence, so the claim is supported by what it’s trying to prove rather than by independent reasons. For example, saying “This drug is safe because it is proven safe” or “The Bible is true because it says so” uses the conclusion as part of the premise, providing no external support. Because there’s no independent backing, the argument doesn’t advance or persuade. The other options describe different faulty patterns: attacking the person instead of the argument, claiming one small step will inevitably lead to a disastrous chain of events, or reducing choices to two options when more exist. Circular reasoning best fits the description that the premise already contains the conclusion and adds no new information.

Circular reasoning is a fallacy where the premise already contains the conclusion, offering no new information. In this pattern, the argument relies on its own conclusion as evidence, so the claim is supported by what it’s trying to prove rather than by independent reasons. For example, saying “This drug is safe because it is proven safe” or “The Bible is true because it says so” uses the conclusion as part of the premise, providing no external support. Because there’s no independent backing, the argument doesn’t advance or persuade. The other options describe different faulty patterns: attacking the person instead of the argument, claiming one small step will inevitably lead to a disastrous chain of events, or reducing choices to two options when more exist. Circular reasoning best fits the description that the premise already contains the conclusion and adds no new information.