That is why the definition is recursive. If every failure triggers a new exception all the way up the call stack, then your program fails.

Yeah, so what was the point to begin with?

Do you understand Design By Contract? That is the theory that provides the distinction between a function/method finishing with success or with failure. The notion of contract is what distinguishes an exception from a glorified GOTO.

In re-reading, my response comes across as much more flippant than I intended. I was just trying to re-emphasize that the definition of an exception is an integral component of Meyer's design by contract methodology and not a stand alone concept.