Circular Reasoning for The Evolution of Research Through A Strategic Construction of Research Methodologies

In a research process, the inductive and deductive reasoning approach has shortcomings in terms of validity and applicability, respectively. Also, the objective-oriented reasoning approach can output findings with some of the two limitations. That meaning, the reasoning approaches do have flaws as a means of methodically and reliably answering research questions. Hence, they are often coupled together and formed a strong basis for an expansion of knowledge. However, academic discourse on best practice in selecting multiple reasonings for a research project is limited. This paper highlights the concept of a circular reasoning process of which a reasoning approach is complemented with one another for robust research findings. Through a strategic sequence of research methodologies, the circular reasoning process enables the capitalisation of strengths and compensation of weaknesses of inductive, deductive, and objective-oriented reasoning. Notably, an extensive cycle of the circular reasoning process would provide a strong foundation for embarking into new research, as well as expanding current research

Causality Problem in a Holographic Dark Energy Model

In the model of holographic dark energy, there is a notorious problem of circular reasoning between the introduction of future event horizon and the accelerating expansion of the universe. We examine the problem after dividing into two parts, the causality problem of the equation of motion and the circular logic on the use of the future event horizon. We specify and isolate the root of the problem from causal equation of motion as a boundary condition, which can be determined from the initial data of the universe. We show that there is no violation of causality if it is defined appropriately and the circular logic problem can be reduced to an initial value problem.Comment: 5 page

Conservation laws can be derived from field equations?

Charge conservation law ($\partial_{\beta} J^\beta =0$) usually is considered as a corollary of Maxwell's equations. A circular reasoning, however, is found in the derivation. A similar fallacy exists in the matter source's conservation law ($\nabla^{\mu}T_{\mu\nu}=0$) and Einstein's field equations. Therefore, the source's conservation laws are NOT consequence of field equations.Comment: 2 page

Value-based argumentation frameworks as neural-symbolic learning systems

While neural networks have been successfully used in a number of machine learning applications, logical languages have been the standard for the representation of argumentative reasoning. In this paper, we establish a relationship between neural networks and argumentation networks, combining reasoning and learning in the same argumentation framework. We do so by presenting a new neural argumentation algorithm, responsible for translating argumentation networks into standard neural networks. We then show a correspondence between the two networks. The algorithm works not only for acyclic argumentation networks, but also for circular networks, and it enables the accrual of arguments through learning as well as the parallel computation of arguments

Ernest Sosa and virtuously begging the question

This paper discusses the notion of epistemic circularity, supposedly different from logical circu-larity, and evaluates Ernest Sosa’s claim that this specific kind of circular reasoning is virtuous rather than vicious. I attempt to determine whether or not the conditions said to make epistemic circularity a permissible instance of begging the question could make other instances of circular reasoning equally permissible

Circles and analogies in public health reasoning

The study of the fallacies has changed almost beyond recognition since Charles Hamblin called for a radical reappraisal of this area of logical inquiry in his 1970 book Fallacies. The “witless examples of his forbears” to which Hamblin referred have largely been replaced by more authentic cases of the fallacies in actual use. It is now not unusual for fallacy and argumentation theorists to draw on actual sources for examples of how the fallacies are used in our everyday reasoning. However, an aspect of this move towards greater authenticity in the study of the fallacies, an aspect which has been almost universally neglected, is the attempt to subject the fallacies to empirical testing of the type which is more commonly associated with psychological experiments on reasoning. This paper addresses this omission in research on the fallacies by examining how subjects use two fallacies – circular argument and analogical argument – during a reasoning task in which subjects are required to consider a number of public health scenarios. Results are discussed in relation to a view of the fallacies as cognitive heuristics that facilitate reasoning in a context of uncertainty

Circular reasoning rather than cyclic expression

A response to Combined analysis reveals a core set of cycling genes by Y Lu, S Mahony, PV Benos, R Rosenfeld, I Simon, LL Breeden and Z Bar-Joseph. Genome Biol 2007, 8:R146