Background for reductio ad absurdum
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reductio ad absurdum

/rɪˈdʌkʃioʊ æd əbˈsɜːrdəm/ /rɪˈdʌkʃiˌoʊ æd əbˈsɜːrdəm/

Meanings
noun
The method of proving a statement by assuming the statement is false and, with that assumption, arriving at a blatant contradiction.

Examples :

"His argument that no one should ever have homework reached a clear reductio ad absurdum when he claimed that, by extension, even surgeons shouldn't practice before operating, thereby demonstrating the flaws in his initial premise. "
logic philosophy language

Related Words

Illustration homework

homework noun

/ˈhəʊmˌwɜːk/ /ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/

Work that is done at home, especially school exercises assigned by a teacher.

"You must do your homework before you can watch television."

Illustration assumption

assumption noun

/əˈsʌmp.ʃən/

The act of assuming, or taking to or upon oneself; the act of taking up or adopting.

"His assumption of secretarial duties was timely."

Illustration practice

practice noun

/ˈpɹæktɪs/

Repetition of an activity to improve a skill.

"He will need lots of practice with the lines before he performs them."

Illustration operating

operating verb

/ˈɒpəɹeɪtɪŋ/ /ˈɑpəɹeɪtɪŋ/

To perform a work or labour; to exert power or strength, physical or mechanical; to act.

"The doctor is operating on the patient's leg. "

Illustration assuming

assuming verb

/əˈsjuːmɪŋ/

To authenticate by means of belief; to surmise; to suppose to be true, especially without proof

"We assume that, as her parents were dentists, she knows quite a bit about dentistry."

Illustration extension

extension noun

/ɪkˈstɛnʃən/

The act of extending; a stretching out; enlargement in length or breadth; an increase

"The library offered an extension on the due date for the overdue books. "

Illustration argument

argument noun

/ˈɑːɡjʊmənt/ /ˈɑɹɡjumənt/

A fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason.

"My argument for staying late was that I needed extra time to finish my project. "

Illustration demonstrating

demonstrating verb

/ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtɪŋ/ /ˈdɛmənˌstrætɪŋ/

To show how to use (something).

"Can you demonstrate the new tools for us?"

Illustration contradiction

contradiction noun

/ˌkɒntɹəˈdɪkʃən/ /ˌkɑːntɹəˈdɪkʃən/

The act of contradicting.

"His contradiction of the proposal was very interesting."

Illustration statement

statement noun

/ˈsteɪtm(ə)nt/ /ˈsteɪtmənt/

A declaration or remark.

"My teacher made a statement about the importance of studying hard. "

Illustration arriving

arriving verb

/əˈɹaɪvɪŋ/

To reach; to get to a certain place.

"He arrived home for two days."

Illustration surgeons

surgeons noun

/ˈsɜːrdʒənz/ /ˈsɜːrdʒɪnz/

One who performs surgery; a doctor who performs operations on people or animals.

"The surgeon refused to operate because the patient was her son."