reductio ad absurdum
re·duc·tio ad ab·sur·dum
noun\ri-ˈdək-tē-ˌō-ˌad-əb-ˈsər-dəm, -ˈdək-sē-ō-, -shē-, -ˈzər-\
Definition of REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM
1
: disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion
2
: the carrying of something to an absurd extreme
Origin of REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM
Late Latin, literally, reduction to the absurd
First Known Use: 1741
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