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presupposition

presupposition

5 7.7
A belief people accept as true before they discuss something
  • noun
  • /ˌpriːsəˌpəʊzɪˈʃən/
translation icon : presuposición
  • Instead, its underlying presuppositions were the ground from which discussion arose, rather than the subject of thought.
  • philosophical presuppositions
  • general presupposition
  • set of presuppositions

He says the answer is very clear, the presupposition are false.

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Examples

  • Still, the general presupposition down through the ages is that a promise ought to be kept.

    Academic text (1999)
  • What are the assumptions, the presuppositions of such a perspective?

  • And let's also not make decisions based on our presuppositions and our emotions.

  • The common sense is not what the mind free of presuppositions intuits, it's what the mind full of presuppositions concludes.

  • The idea that Pumapunku was from Atlantean times we now know is based on a very transparently flawed presupposition.

  • In any debate, it is essential to clarify the presupposition that underlies each argument.

  • Her presupposition that all students would complete the assignment on time turned out to be incorrect.

  • Understanding the presupposition behind his claims helped us engage in a more meaningful discussion.

Synonyms

assumption
vspresupposition
513 3.5

A belief people accept as true without proof

is held beforehand specifically as the basis for argument or action
premise
vspresupposition
365 5.9

An idea accepted as true that supports an argument

is held beforehand in broad use rather than a formal logical starting point
presumption
vspresupposition
35 5.8

An idea accepted as true without proof used as a basis for thinking or action

is held beforehand specifically as a starting point for argument
supposition
vspresupposition
23 7.3

An idea that people accept as true without proof

is held beforehand rather than mainly used as a tentative hypothesis
preconception
vspresupposition
19 6.8

An opinion you form before you have enough facts that makes you judge unfairly

is held beforehand for argument or action rather than mainly causing bias
preconceived notion
vspresupposition
12 5.6

An opinion you form before you have enough facts

is held beforehand as a basis rather than merely formed without full facts
postulate
vspresupposition
  • Specialized
4 8.1

An idea accepted as true without proof and used to build a theory

is held beforehand rather than asserted as a foundational principle in theory
basic assumption
vspresupposition
4 3.3

A simple idea or belief that people accept without proof and that supports an argument

is held beforehand rather than stressing simple fundamentality
preconceived idea
vspresupposition
3 4.3

An opinion you make before you know the facts

is held beforehand as a working basis rather than simply an early opinion
surmise
vspresupposition
3 7.9

An idea based on little evidence

is held beforehand as a working basis rather than a tentative guess
postulation
vspresupposition
  • Specialized
1 9.3

An idea people accept without proof and use to build an argument

is held beforehand rather than proposed as a theoretical claim
supposal
vspresupposition
1 9.5

An idea you think may be true

is held beforehand as a working basis rather than just an imagined idea
posit
vspresupposition
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A statement assumed true to use in an argument

is held beforehand in daily use rather than tentatively for logical tests
preconceived opinion
vspresupposition
1 5.3

An opinion you form before you know enough facts

is held beforehand for reasoning rather than reflecting unfair early judgment
premiss
vspresupposition
  • Archaic
8.4

A statement accepted as true that is used to reach a conclusion

is held beforehand in broad use rather than the technical spelling variant
prenotion
vspresupposition
9.3

An idea you have before you know or see something

is held beforehand as a working starting point rather than a vague impression

Antonyms

1.0

Something that can be shown to be true, not an opinion

1.4

The way things really are, not how we imagine or wish

How Certain

axiom
30 7.5
premise
365 5.9
presupposition
5 7.7
assumption
513 3.5
guess
768 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

presupposition = presuppose (semi-transparent) = pre + suppose + ition

This is a fairly regular abstract noun from 'presuppose', but the formal -ition pattern makes the relationship slightly less obvious for learners than simpler suffixes.

Etymology

The word presupposition comes from pre- 'before' and suppose 'to think or assume'. A helpful way to remember it is that a presupposition is an idea you 'assume before' you start, so it is a basic belief taken for granted.