Definition of reductio ad absurdum Reductio ad absurdum
re•duc•ti•o ad ab•sur•dum
We found 3 definitions of reductio ad absurdum from 3 different sources.
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What does reductio ad absurdum mean?
WordNet
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| reductio ad absurdum - (reduction to the absurd) a disproof by showing that the consequences of the proposition are absurd; or a proof of a proposition by showing that its negation leads to a contradiction | ||
| reductio | ||
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Wiktionary 
- reductio ad absurdum (Noun)
The method of proving a statement by assuming the statement is false and, with that assumption, arriving at a blatant contradiction.
Wikipedia 
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Reductio ad absurdum is a Latin phrase. It can be translated as "reduction to the impossible". Generally, it is also known as Proof by contradiction. In Logic and mathematics it is a method of proving something.
The phrase can be traced back to the Greek "η εις άτοπον απαγωγή" ("hê eis átopon apagogê"). This phrase means "reduction to the impossible". It was often used by Aristotle.
The method of proving something works by first stating something is true. Then other things are deduced from that. In the end, there is a contradiction. This contradiction then shows that thing stated first cannot be true.
