Refutation is what? Meaning of the word

Refutation is a variant of reasoning aimed at contesting the thesis, proving its unreasonableness. In order to achieve this result, it is necessary to find the true arguments.

Process Features

What is a refutation? The meaning of the word tried to explain Nikolai Copernicus. He was built a full-fledged system of evidence, with which he was able to refute the geocentric system invented by Ptolemy. In biology, Darwin developed an evolutionary doctrine, through which it was possible to refute the Linnaean assertion about the permanence of plant and animal species.

Varieties of refutation

There are several different forms of this concept. For example, there are types of denial that can sometimes have different meanings. This is a criticism of the arguments, the thesis, the explanation of the connection between them.

There are various ways of refuting. In any case, they are comprehensive. For trial, as an example, only evidence of the innocence of the suspect (accused) person is considered.

The presumption of innocence is the recognition of the fact of legal certainty. While no clear evidence of guilt has been found, a person can not be charged with a crime.

Building a Refutation

What are the rules of refutation? It includes the thesis, argument, demonstration. Its goal is always the opposite of the purpose of the proof. If the truth of the thesis is justified in it, then its falsity must be confirmed. Refutation is the search for sound and true judgments that help to identify the logical connection between arguments and thesis, to establish the unprovedness and falsity of the chosen thesis. To demonstrate, you need to establish a logical connection between the arguments and the thesis, explain the lack of evidence. If it is possible to identify the falsity of at least one logical sequence, one can assert about the unreliability of all information.

Reaction methods

As another method by which it is possible to establish the falsity of a certain thesis, there is a confirmation of the truth of its negation. When establishing the fidelity of the thesis, the question of its truth disappears.

Any refutation is a necessary condition for finding the truth. For example, it is enough to find one white specimen among a variety of brown bears to refute the assertion that all individuals are only brown. To deny the assertion that all planets have satellites, we can cite an example of a planet to Venus that does not have them.

Two of these techniques can be used to refute any thesis, no matter what arguments it supports. If one deduces a false consequence from the thesis or finds confirmation of the truth of the antithesis, one can find proof of the falsity of the thesis itself. In this case, regardless of what will be used as an argument, they will not become evidence for the thesis itself. It is possible to confirm only the true statement, for false hypotheses there is no evidence.

In the presentation of the thesis with justifications, it is possible to direct the refutation operation against justification. Any refutation is a serious operation, which is aimed at finding reliable arguments. Mistakenness of the arguments is revealed, similarly to the theses, proceeding from the inconsistency, the inconsistency of the facts revealed.

A refutation can be directed to the very relationship between the thesis and the argument. In such situations it is necessary to show that the thesis will not follow from the reasons given in its confirmation. In the absence of a logical connection between the thesis and the argument, there is no question of proving the thesis with the arguments used.

Example

Let us consider a concrete example concerning the refutation of the thesis. Citizen Ivanov B. suspected of committing a burglary. Taking this phrase for the thesis, we will try to verify its truth, to deduce the consequences that follow from it. As a first consequence, let us consider the fingerprints that were left on objects and belong to Ivanov B.

The second consequence will be the traces of shoes found on the floor at the scene. They were abandoned shoes, which belonged to Ivanov B. Residents of the house (witnesses) described the appearance of an unfamiliar man, which completely corresponds to the image of citizen Ivanov B.

In the course of laboratory studies, it was not possible to find confirmation of the first two effects. In addition, there was no 100% coincidence between the portrait of the man drawn up by the description of the witnesses and the real appearance of citizen Ivanov B. As a result, it was possible to confirm the falsity of the arguments, the unreliability of the thesis, its complete refutation, the removal of charges from the suspect Ivanov B.

Conclusion

Refutation of the thesis can be used against arguments, the thesis itself, its demonstration. At present, direct or indirect refutation of any thesis is used. Unlike indirect, with a direct thesis is justified without reference to other statements. This method allows you to establish the absurdity of the thesis by using indirect evidence. Often a refutation is built by searching for indirect evidence from the opposite. For example, Democritus refuted the thesis that "everything is true." With such an approach, it is possible to establish the falsity of antitheses by selecting the evidence base. This method is currently used by criminologists and investigators involved in the disclosure of complex crimes.

Depending on the complexity of theses being analyzed, different approaches to their refutation or confirmation are used. Investigators apply in their activities all the methods described above (each as necessary). This tactic gives a positive result. It allows you to prove the guilt of a real criminal, to refute the charges brought against an innocent person.