Noun: reductio ad absurdum ri,dúk-ti-ow,ad-ub'sur-dum or ri,dúk-ti-ow,ad-ub'zur-dum
- (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
"The philosopher used reductio ad absurdum to disprove his opponent's argument";
- reductio
Type of: disproof, falsification, refutation
Encyclopedia: Reductio ad absurdum