Ryle's regress

proper noun

The paradoxical situation whereby, if one accepts the cognitivist theory that every action is preceded by a thought, each thought must also be preceded by another thought, and so thinking could apparently never begin.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. human sciencesThe paradoxical situation whereby, if one accepts the cognitivist theory that every action is preceded by a thought, each thought must also be preceded by another thought, and so thinking could apparently never begin.

Origin

Described by Gilbert Ryle.

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Cite this entry
APA

Ryle's regress. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ryle's%20regress

MLA

“Ryle's regress.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ryle's%20regress. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Ryle's regress,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ryle's%20regress.

Source: Ryle's regress on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.