reductio ad absurdum
phrase | /reductio ad absurdum/
a method of argument that shows a proposition is false by demonstrating it leads to absurd or contradictory conclusions
Literal meaning:
"reduction to absurdity"
reductio ad absurdum
phrase | /reductio ad absurdum/
Foreign Words & PhrasesLatinHARDa method of argument that shows a proposition is false by demonstrating it leads to absurd or contradictory conclusions
Literal meaning:
"reduction to absurdity"
Learning Progress
Examples
"The lawyer used reductio ad absurdum to refute the claim."
"Mathematicians often use reductio ad absurdum to prove impossibility results."
Mnemonic Trick
Show that assuming X leads to nonsense → reductio ad absurdum
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