position
noun
Position — an assumption put forward as a foundational starting point
Definition
The act of positing; an assumption taken as a postulate or axiom
In depth
Position, in this philosophical and logical sense, names the act of positing, an assumption taken as a postulate or axiom from which further reasoning proceeds. The word describes the foundational stance or premise a person adopts, whether in formal logical argument or in the broader, everyday sense of holding a particular opinion or stance on an issue.
Origin
The word descends from Latin positio, a placing, from ponere, to place or put. That underlying sense of placement remains active even in this abstract, intellectual use, a philosophical position conceived as something deliberately placed or set down as a starting point, the fixed ground from which subsequent argument can proceed.
Usage examples
"Her position rested on a single, carefully stated assumption that the rest of the argument never seriously questioned."
"The philosopher's position, though controversial, was at least internally consistent given its initial premises."
"He stated his position clearly at the outset, allowing the entire debate to proceed from a shared, transparent foundation."
How to use it
Position in this sense of a foundational assumption or stance is common in philosophical, logical, and argumentative writing, distinct from the word's many other senses describing physical location, employment, or rank, with context generally clarifying the intended meaning.
Related concepts
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