Circularity in explanatory systems isn't necessarily vicious; holistic theories (like coherentism in epistemology) succeed by mutual support among elements without external foundation.

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Circularity (in explanations)(as used in logic and epistemology): When you use something to explain itself, or when your explanations loop back on each other—like saying 'A explains B' and 'B explains A.' It *sounds* like cheating, but philosophers debate whether it always is.
Coherentism(Epistemology; theory of epistemic justification): A doxastic theory of justification holding that only beliefs can serve as evidence, and that justification derives from the internal coherence of a belief system
External foundation(as used in epistemology): Something outside a system that props it up and justifies it, like saying all your beliefs must ultimately rest on a few basic 'rock-solid' facts.
Holistic theories(as used in epistemology and metaphysics): Theories that say you can't understand individual pieces in isolation—everything only makes sense as part of a whole system where all the pieces work together.

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