  Cirquent calculus is a new proof-theoretic and semantic framework, whose main
distinguishing feature is being based on circuits, as opposed to the more
traditional approaches that deal with tree-like objects such as formulas or
sequents. Among its advantages are greater efficiency, flexibility and
expressiveness. This paper presents a detailed elaboration of a deep-inference
cirquent logic, which is naturally and inherently resource conscious. It shows
that classical logic, both syntactically and semantically, is just a special,
conservative fragment of this more general and, in a sense, more basic logic --
the logic of resources in the form of cirquent calculus. The reader will find
various arguments in favor of switching to the new framework, such as arguments
showing the insufficiency of the expressive power of linear logic or other
formula-based approaches to developing resource logics, exponential
improvements over the traditional approaches in both representational and proof
complexities offered by cirquent calculus, and more. Among the main purposes of
this paper is to provide an introductory-style starting point for what, as the
author wishes to hope, might have a chance to become a new line of research in
proof theory -- a proof theory based on circuits instead of formulas.
