postulator
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- someone who assumes or takes something for granted as the basis of an argument
- (Roman Catholic Church) someone who proposes or pleads for a candidate for beatification or canonization