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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

Reductio Ad Absurdum

/rɪˈdʌk.ti.oʊ æd əbˈsɝ.dəm/

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What does Reductio Ad Absurdum mean?

noun

  1. The method of disproving a statement by assuming the statement is true and, with that assumption, arriving at a blatant contradiction.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/rɪˈdʌk.ti.oʊ æd əbˈsɝ.dəm/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

A literal application of her theory to man today is enough to bring it to a reductio ad absurdum.
H. L. (Henry Louis) MenckenIn Defense of WomenProject Gutenberg ebook #1270
When the reason alleged for ranking the symphony above the oratorio leads us likewise to rank the sonata above the symphony, we seem to have reached a reductio ad absurdum.
John FiskeThe Unseen World, and Other EssaysProject Gutenberg ebook #1486
More book examples (1)
In short, the theory of Malthus--and herein lies the great merit of this writer, a merit which none of his colleagues has dreamed of attributing to him--is a reductio ad absurdum of all political economy.
P.-J. (Pierre-Joseph) ProudhonSystem of Economical Contradictions; Or, The Philosophy of MiseryProject Gutenberg ebook #444