The Cycle of Explanations: Do They Exist?

A series of events where each one explains the next, and the final event wraps back around to explain the first. Sounds like a tricky concept, right? This idea is known as explanatory circles. Some people believe these circles exist, and let's dive into why. Firstly, think about worlds described by general relativity, where time isn't linear but circular. In these scenarios, explanatory circles might be a natural fit. Secondly, consider special science theories that talk about feedback loops. These loops can create cycles where each step depends on the previous one, and the last step connects back to the first. Now, you might be thinking, "But why aren't these circles dismissed outright? " Well, there are three common arguments against them. But guess what? They don't hold up! At least, that's what some folks argue.