vicious circle
noun1
A situation in which the response to one problem creates a chain of problems, each making it more difficult to solve the original one.
- Meanwhile street congestion grows worse and the vicious circle tightens of private motor-cars which impede L.T.E. buses in Central London and of exasperated bus travellers who therefore take to using their own cars.1961 November, “Talking of Trains: London Transport in 1960”, in Trains Illustrated, page 656:
2
Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences A fallacy in which the premise is used to prove a conclusion which is then used to prove the premise.
- Synonyms
- vicious cycle, begging the question, circular argument, petitio principii
- Antonyms
- virtuous circle
- Derived terms
- vicious circle principle
- Related terms
- slippery slope