The Circles of Philosophy were academic circles in Voth civilization. Distinct from the Circles of Science, they were concerned with philosophic pursuits, including the study and critique of Voth Doctrine. By 2373 the Circles were one of many areas, including the general public, that had begun to openly discuss the Distant Origin Theory. Much of that conversation was stifled, however, by the arrest and trial of Forra Gegen for heresy against Doctrine when he claimed to have proof of Distant Origin. (VOY: "Distant Origin")