infinite regress

noun

, Philosophy.

1. causal or logical relationship of terms in a series without the possibility of a term initiating the series.

Word History and Origins

Origin of infinite regress¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

To suppose that a food is constituted by eating is to presuppose that eating eats eating, and so on in infinite regress.

From Project Gutenberg

We go back in an infinite regress, approaching the ideal limit: In the beginning, nothing.

From Project Gutenberg