Definition of reductio ad absurdum in English:
reductio ad absurdum
noun rɪˌdʌktɪəʊ ad abˈsəːdəmrəˌdəktioʊ æd æbˈsərdəm
Philosophy A method of proving the falsity of a premise by showing that its logical consequence is absurd or contradictory.
the argument is a reductio ad absurdum of utilitarianism
Example sentencesExamples
- Indeed, this is going to be something of a reductio ad absurdum.
- Opposition to stem-cell research is the reductio ad absurdum of the right-to-life argument.
- It's an entertaining reductio ad absurdum against those who complain about the unfairness of low-cost production by foreigners.
- The argument that says no individual has power leads to a reductio ad absurdum.
- For some reason, this strikes me as the reductio ad absurdum of the whole project.
Origin
Latin, literally 'reduction to the absurd'.
Definition of reductio ad absurdum in US English:
reductio ad absurdum
nounrəˌdəktēō ad abˈsərdəmrəˌdəktioʊ æd æbˈsərdəm
Philosophy A method of proving the falsity of a premise by showing that its logical consequence is absurd or contradictory.
the argument is a reductio ad absurdum of utilitarianism
Example sentencesExamples
- Indeed, this is going to be something of a reductio ad absurdum.
- Opposition to stem-cell research is the reductio ad absurdum of the right-to-life argument.
- It's an entertaining reductio ad absurdum against those who complain about the unfairness of low-cost production by foreigners.
- The argument that says no individual has power leads to a reductio ad absurdum.
- For some reason, this strikes me as the reductio ad absurdum of the whole project.
Origin
Latin, literally ‘reduction to the absurd’.