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Presupposition: meaning, definitions and examples

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presupposition

 

[ˌpriːsəpəˈzɪʃən ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

in linguistics

A presupposition is an implicit assumption about the world or background belief relating to an utterance whose truth is taken for granted in discourse. In other words, it is something that must be true for a sentence to make sense.

Synonyms

assumption, postulate, premise.

Examples of usage

  • Her husband is still in the office, presupposing that she is married.
  • The fact that the sun rises in the east is a presupposition in many cultures.
Context #2 | Noun

in psychology

In psychology, a presupposition refers to the beliefs, values, and attitudes that individuals already hold before they engage in a certain activity or conversation. These presuppositions can influence behavior and perception.

Synonyms

bias, preconception, prejudice.

Examples of usage

  • His presupposition that all politicians are corrupt colored his view of the election.
  • The therapist helped her challenge her negative presuppositions about herself.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'presupposition' comes from Latin roots, where 'prae-' means 'before' and 'suppositio' means 'placing underneath'.
  • First recorded use of the term in English was in the late 19th century, highlighting its relatively recent addition to the language.

Philosophy

  • In philosophy, presuppositions play a crucial role in arguments, where the truth of one statement depends on another assumed to be true.
  • Philosopher Peter Strawson highlighted the importance of presuppositions in understanding statements and their implications in discourse.

Linguistics

  • In linguistics, presuppositions help to understand how meaning is conveyed in conversation, influencing how hearers interpret speakers' intended meanings.
  • Some verbs, especially in questions or conditional statements, can carry presuppositions that inform the listener about unstated assumptions.

Psychology

  • Cognitive biases can influence our presuppositions, leading us to accept certain beliefs without critical thinking.
  • Research shows that presuppositions affect how we form opinions and decisions, guiding our thought processes in specific directions.

Education

  • Teachers often use presuppositions in lesson planning to build on students’ prior knowledge and assumptions.
  • Recognizing students’ presuppositions can help educators address misconceptions and facilitate deeper learning.

Translations

Translations of the word "presupposition" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pressuposição

🇮🇳 पूर्वधारणा

🇩🇪 Voraussetzung

🇮🇩 praanggapan

🇺🇦 припущення

🇵🇱 przypuszczenie

🇯🇵 前提

🇫🇷 présupposition

🇪🇸 presuposición

🇹🇷 varsayım

🇰🇷 전제

🇸🇦 افتراض

🇨🇿 předpoklad

🇸🇰 predpoklad

🇨🇳 前提

🇸🇮 predpostavka

🇮🇸 forsenda

🇰🇿 алғышарт

🇬🇪 წინაპირობა

🇦🇿 fərziyyə

🇲🇽 presuposición

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,531, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.