The phrase "niceness is the state of being nice" is an example of which type of reasoning?

The phrase "niceness is the state of being nice" demonstrates a circular argument because it essentially restates the concept of "niceness" by redefining it using a synonymous term. In a circular argument, the conclusion is included in the premise, offering no new information and failing to provide a substantive basis for understanding the term being defined. This type of reasoning does not advance an argument or provide evidence; rather, it loops back to the starting point without clarification or elaboration.

In comparison, a slippery slope argument suggests that a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related (and often negative) events. Hasty generalization involves making a broad conclusion based on a limited set of observations and does not apply to this phrase, which is more about defining a term. A false dichotomy presents two opposing options as the only possibilities when, in fact, more exist. Thus, the phrase's structure of restating itself reinforces its classification as a circular argument.