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One classic example is calculating a factorial. In Lisp, the factorial function can be defined recursively as follows:

(defun factorial (n) (if (<= n 1)

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  (* n (factorial (- n 1)))))

In this definition, if n is 1 or less (the base case), the function returns 1. Otherwise, it multiplies n by the factorial of (n-1), further breaking the problem into a simpler one until reaching the base case.

Recursive functions are functions that call themselves to solve problems by breaking them down into simpler, similar subproblems. Each recursive call works on a smaller piece of the overall task, and a clearly defined base case stops the recursion once the simplest instance is reached, ensuring the process eventually terminates. This concept mirrors philosophical ideas of self-reference and reductionism, where complex wholes are understood in terms of simpler, self-similar parts.

Lisp (short for “LISt Processing”) is a family of programming languages, originally developed in the late 1950s by John McCarthy. Known for its unique, parenthesis-heavy syntax and powerful features for symbolic computation and recursive functions, Lisp has been influential in artificial intelligence research and the development of programming language theory.