Circularity In Definition Of Force? So my college physics book defines a force as a push/pull, but mainly a vector quantity, having both magnitude (strength) and direction.
Yet it also defines the unit of a Newton, as THE FORCE, required to accelerate a 1 kg object 1 m/s^2
My questions is, isn't that kind of circular or misleading? How can we call a Newton a force, yet it not have a direction? Or does it not matter in that a newton is a unit, so it is understood to be that general force, regardless of direction. And when necessary or specific, obviously a force has direction.
Looking for input as to why a force is defined as having direction, but many times forces (like the example definition of a newton) are defined with not direction at all.
 A: The definition of the newton is not a definition of force in general. It is the definition of a unit in the SI system. There is nothing circular or misleading there. Even using your quoted definition, the definition of the newton depends on the definition of force, but the definition of force does not depend on the definition of the newton. So that is linear, not circular.
Note that the newton is not officially defined in terms of force anyway. The newton is defined simply as $1\text{ N}=1\text{ kg m s}^{-2}$ as seen in the official SI brochure:
https://www.bipm.org/documents/20126/41483022/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf/2d2b50bf-f2b4-9661-f402-5f9d66e4b507?version=1.9&download=true
Any statement defining the newton otherwise is not the official definition but an individual conclusion or description.
A: The definition of the Newton unit is refering to the force magnitude only. As you say yourself, direction is not included in the mentioned definition - but remember that force can be considered both with and without direction. It depends on the scope, the frame, it is used within. Just as how a force can be considered two- or three-dimensional or more depending on the space you are working within.
Also, note how the Newton unit is defined from force (as well as the units of mass, distance and time) whereas force is not defined from the Newton. There is no circular definition here. The mentioned definition of force is a tad vague, though, I'd give you that. This is more of an intuitive definition or description than a proper technical definition.
Technically, force is defined via Newton's 2nd law:
$$\sum F=ma.$$
