--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Mode of circular reasoning is the…" description: "\"The Mode of circular reasoning is the form used when the proof itself which ought to establish the matter of inquiry requires confirmation derived from..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b2/sextus-empiricus-45876_assuming_the-mode-of-circular-reasoning-is-the-fo_2282042.jpg" --- # The Mode of circular reasoning is the form used when the… ![“The Mode of circular reasoning is the form used when the proof itself which ought to establish the matter of inquiry requires confirmation derived from the matter; in this case, being unable to assume either in order to establish the other, we suspend judgement about both.” quote by Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b2/sextus-empiricus-45876_assuming_the-mode-of-circular-reasoning-is-the-fo_2282042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b2/sextus-empiricus-45876_assuming_the-mode-of-circular-reasoning-is-the-fo_2282042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b2/sextus-empiricus-45876_assuming_the-mode-of-circular-reasoning-is-the-fo_2282042.jpg) > “The Mode of circular reasoning is the form used when the proof itself which ought to establish the matter of inquiry requires confirmation derived from the matter; in this case, being unable to assume either in order to establish the other, we suspend judgement about both.” [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote describes circular reasoning where proof and its subject depend on each other, leading to suspended judgment. **In simple terms:** Circular reasoning prevents establishing truth, so we with judgment. Key Takeaway Recognize and pause when arguments are mutually dependent. Themes skepticism logic epistemology Mood analytical critical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - philosophical debates - scientific hypothesis testing - legal evidence analysis Key Concepts circular reasoning inference suspension of judgment Questions to Reflect On - How can we avoid circular reasoning in our arguments? - What methods break the dependency loop? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Circular Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circular-reasoning-2749731/) [Confirmation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirmation/) [Confirmation Derived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirmation-derived-5330648/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Inquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiry/) [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mode Circular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mode-circular-5330650/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Reasoning Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning-form-5330649/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [...the possibility of circular reasoning arises-that is, using the temperature record to derive a key input to climate models that are then tested against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-wilbur-anderson/the-possibility-of-circular-reasoning-arises-that-is-using-the/) [Theodore Wilbur Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-wilbur-anderson/) > [“Circular reasoning is infallible even if not exactly logical, and this is why so many of us so often resort to it—not so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/circular-reasoning-is-infallible-even-if-not-exactly-logical-and-this/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Science is not the affirmation of a set of beliefs but a process of inquiry aimed at building a testable body of knowledge constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/science-is-not-the-affirmation-of-a-set-of-beliefs-but-a-process-of/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [When a spectator approaches a painting with his own particular set of filters or theories, be they historical, political, intellectual or whatever - he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-portway/when-a-spectator-approaches-a-painting-with-his-own-particular-set-of/) [Douglas Portway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-portway/) > [Even before the hearings that led to confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts, senators were saying they were reserving judgment on how they would vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/even-before-the-hearings-that-led-to-confirmation-of-chief-justice/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [No senator's vote, except for the declaration of war or the authorization for the use of force, is more important than the confirmation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/no-senator-s-vote-except-for-the-declaration-of-war-or-the/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [I write to withdraw as a nominee to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. ... 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Faith and repentance precede this ordinance. Confirmation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-theodore-tuttle/baptism-by-immersion-for-the-remission-of-sins-is-an-essential/) [A. Theodore Tuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-theodore-tuttle/) > [The question for the Republicans running the confirmation hearings in the United States Senate is whose rules are they going to use?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/the-question-for-the-republicans-running-the-confirmation-hearings-in/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) ## More by Sextus Empiricus > [Plato, quite decadently, wore an earring while young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sextus-empiricus/plato-quite-decadently-wore-an-earring-while-young/) [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) > [Scepticism is an ability, or mental attitude, which opposes appearances to judgments in any way whatsoever, with the result that,owing to the equipollence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sextus-empiricus/scepticism-is-an-ability-or-mental-attitude-which-opposes-appearances/) [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) > [To every argument an equal argument is opposed,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sextus-empiricus/to-every-argument-an-equal-argument-is-opposed/) [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) > [The skeptic, being a lover of his kind, desires to cure by speech, as best he can, the self-conceit and rashness of the dogmatists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sextus-empiricus/the-skeptic-being-a-lover-of-his-kind-desires-to-cure-by-speech-as/) [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) > [By skepticism . . . we arrive first at suspension of judgment, and second at freedom from disturbance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sextus-empiricus/by-skepticism-we-arrive-first-at-suspension-of-judgment-and-second-at/) [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) > [Democritus sometimes does away with what appears to the senses, and says that none of these appears according to truth but only according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sextus-empiricus/democritus-sometimes-does-away-with-what-appears-to-the-senses-and/) [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) > [Skepticism relieved two terrible diseases that afflicted mankind: anxiety and dogmatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sextus-empiricus/skepticism-relieved-two-terrible-diseases-that-afflicted-mankind/) [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) [Explore all 8 Sextus Empiricus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. 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