postulation
- Noun:
- A formal request or proposal: A formal message or statement that requests something or proposes an idea, typically submitted to an authority for consideration.
- A foundational assumption: (In logic) a declaration or statement of something considered self-evident or fundamental, which can be assumed as the true basis for an argument or theory.
Noun (Formal Request):
- The committee reviewed his postulation for additional research funding.
- Her postulation to the city council outlined a new plan for park renovations.
Noun (Logical Assumption):
- The entire philosophical argument rests on the initial postulation that all men are created equal.
- In geometry, we begin with the postulation that a straight line can be drawn between any two points.
"To make a postulation": To formally present a request or propose a foundational idea.
- The scientist made a postulation to the review board, seeking approval for the controversial experiment.
"On the postulation that...": Based on the assumption that...
- The economic model was built on the postulation that consumer behavior is rational.
Postulate (verb/noun): To suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of something as a basis for reasoning. Often used interchangeably with "postulation" as a noun in logic and science.
- Verb: He postulated a new theorem.
- Noun: One of Euclid's postulates is that all right angles are equal.
Postulant (noun): A person who makes a request or applies for something, especially someone seeking admission to a religious order.
- The postulant waited nervously for the convent's decision.
- Formal Request Sense: Petition, application, proposal, submission, solicitation.
- Logical Assumption Sense: Axiom, premise, presumption, supposition, hypothesis.
- "Axiomatic postulation": A statement so evident that it is accepted as true without controversy, serving as a starting point.
- The freedom of speech is often treated as an axiomatic postulation in democratic societies.
The meaning of "postulation" depends heavily on context. In administrative or formal contexts, it primarily means a request. In academic, scientific, or philosophical contexts, it primarily means a fundamental assumption that is not proven but accepted as a starting point for reasoning.
- a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
- (logic) a declaration of something self-evident; something that can be assumed as the basis for argument