An infinite regress in a series of propositions arises if the truth of proposition P1 requires the support of proposition P2, the truth of proposition P2 requires the support of proposition P3, ..., and the truth of proposition Pn-1 requires the support of proposition Pn and n approaches infinity.
Distinction is made between infinite regresses that are "vicious" and those that are not. One definition given is that a vicious regress is "an attempt to solve a problem which re-introduced the same problem in the proposed solution. If one continues along the same lines, the initial problem will recur infinitely and will never be solved. Not all regresses, however, are vicious."
Read more about Infinite Regress: Aristotle's Answer, Consciousness, Optics
Famous quotes containing the words infinite and/or regress:
“You need an infinite stretch of time ahead of you to start to think, infinite energy to make the smallest decision. The world is getting denser. The immense number of useless projects is bewildering. Too many things have to be put in to balance up an uncertain scale. You can’t disappear anymore. You die in a state of total indecision.”
—Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929)
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—Frank Pittman (20th century)