Definition

Noun: 1. A person who assumes or takes something for granted as the basis of an argument: A postulator is someone who puts forward a proposition or principle as a foundation for reasoning or discussion, often without providing immediate proof. 2. (In the Roman Catholic Church) A person who formally proposes or pleads for a candidate for beatification or canonization: This is an official role within the Church's process of declaring someone a saint. The postulator is responsible for promoting the cause, gathering evidence, and presenting the case.

Examples

• The philosopher acted as a postulator of the theory, building his entire system upon a single, unproven axiom.
• In the debate, she was the main postulator, asserting that economic growth must precede social programs.
• The diocese appointed a postulator to guide the lengthy process for the potential saint's canonization.
• As the official postulator for the cause, his duty was to compile all testimonies of miracles.

Advanced Usage

• Logical/Rhetorical Context: In academic or philosophical writing, a "postulator" can be seen as one who establishes postulates—basic assumptions accepted as true for the sake of argument or a particular system of thought.
• Ecclesiastical Role: The role of a postulator in the Catholic Church is highly specialized, involving theological, historical, and canonical expertise to advance a "cause" through its stages (Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed, Saint).

Variants and Related Words

• Postulate (verb/noun): To suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of something as a basis for reasoning; or the thing that is postulated.
• Postulation (noun): The action of postulating or the thing postulated.

Synonyms

• Proposer
• Advocate (especially for the ecclesiastical meaning)
• Positer
• Supposer

Related Idioms or Phrases

• To act as a postulator for: This phrase is used literally, especially concerning the Church role, e.g., "He acted as the postulator for Mother Teresa's cause."
• The argument's postulator: A descriptive phrase identifying the person who introduced the foundational assumption of an argument.

Noun

1. someone who assumes or takes something for granted as the basis of an argument
2. (Roman Catholic Church) someone who proposes or pleads for a candidate for beatification or canonization