UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Circular reasoning occurs when an argument's conclusion is already embedded, explicitly or implicitly, in its premises. Instead of providing independent support, the premises merely restate the claim in different words. This gives the illusion of justification while in fact assuming what needs to be demonstrated. Consequently, the argument fails to advance rational grounds for belief and is rightly criticised as circular.

Option A:
Option A is correct because circular arguments “go in a circle,” starting from what they purport to end with. Even if the conclusion is true, the reasoning does not help to establish it, since one can only accept the premises if one already accepts the conclusion.

Option B:
Option B, analogical, refers to arguments that reason from similarities between cases and can be strong or weak depending on the quality of the analogy. They are not inherently circular.

Option C:
Option C, probabilistic, describes reasoning that deals with degrees of likelihood rather than certainty, which is typical of inductive arguments but not necessarily flawed.

Option D:
Option D, deductive, names a broad class of arguments that aim for necessary support; some deductive arguments may be circular, but deduction as such is not defined by circularity.

A, B and C correctly describe circular reasoning and how it may be disguised, and E is true about its appearance in exam passages. D is false: sharing a topic does not make an argument circular; circularity requires assuming the conclusion. Hence A, B, C and E only are correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes all true statements and excludes D (false overgeneralisation).

Option B:
Option B is incomplete because it omits E (exam context).

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes D (false) and omits A (core definition).

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes D (false) and omits B (lack of independent support).