Refutation is a human-made practice for demonstrating that a claim, argument, or theory is false or unsound. Its parameters: (1) a target proposition or argument to be refuted, (2) evidence or reasoning that contradicts the target, (3) a method of demonstration (logical deduction, empirical counterexample, reductio ad absurdum), (4) an audience or standard that recognizes the refutation as successful. Persistence mechanism: formalized through logical systems, scientific methodology, legal procedures, and dialectical traditions; reproduced through teaching, publication, and institutional practice. [formal: refutatio | substrate: behavior | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.21]
Accepted ontology entry
refutation
Refutation is a human-made practice for demonstrating that a claim, argument, or theory is false or unsound. Its parameters: (1) a target proposition or argument to be refuted, (2) evidence or reasoning that contradicts the target, (3) a m…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made practice of demonstrating that a claim, argument, or theory is false or unsound. Institutionalized through logic (Aristotelian syllogistic), scientific method (Popperian falsification protocols), legal proceedings (cross-examination), and everyday argumentation. The concept carves a specific epistemic operation — not mere disagreement but systematic disproof.
Names and aliases
- refutationen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrouigb905lod1nl2tzzi329INSTANCE_OF →
Refutation IS a specific kind of argumentation — one aimed at disproving a claim. A competent speaker calls refutation 'a kind of argumentation' (Law 9). The note pins INSTANCE_OF sense.
- cmrfgwmbc000wigxu492zdyv3INSTANCE_OF →
refutation is a specific kind of argument — one aimed at disproof of a claim. Law 9: competent speaker calls refutation 'a type/kind of argument'. Direction: specific(refutation)→general(argument).
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 22, 2026, 12:55 AM UTC
- Content hash
- abae94b959b054b7fa42f1d42c0daf28a90bf69c285b439e170c2c050089c08e