Are some circular arguments reasonable? and is this an example of one?

forrest-sounds May 08, 2021 at 11:37 1475 views 3 comments Metaphysics & Epistemology
I know I'm conscious,
because I am conscious.
Because I am conscious,
I know I'm conscious.

Comments (3)

bongo fury May 08, 2021 at 13:51 ¶ #533192
Quoting forrest-sounds
Are some circular arguments reasonable?


Sure. Just not deductively (formally, syntactically, mechanically, automatically).

Quoting forrest-sounds
and is this an example of one?


So it depends on whether your circle is a tight loop, and has to have been spinning forever (unreasonable) or is more like a broth on a slow boil, added to and stirred, re-fried etc. (a culture).

alan1000 May 16, 2021 at 15:31 ¶ #537120
This has nothing to do with circular arguments in the traditional sense. What you are asserting here is 'Sartrean' consciousness - the [self]-awareness of consciousness - as opposed to the simple, reactive consciousness of, eg, Behavioural Psychology,
TonesInDeepFreeze May 16, 2021 at 15:50 ¶ #537124
Quoting forrest-sounds
I know I'm conscious,
because I am conscious.
Because I am conscious,
I know I'm conscious.


That only switches the order of the clauses 'I know I'm conscious' and 'because I'm conscious'.

That just redundancy, not circularity.