Premise-driven

Premise-driven describes a process, argument, or decision-making approach that is fundamentally shaped and guided by a set of established premises or assumptions. These underlying premises act as the foundation upon which subsequent reasoning, actions, and conclusions are built. The validity and relevance of these premises critically influence the soundness and effectiveness of the outcome. This approach prioritizes the initial conditions and logical connections derived from them, ensuring consistency with those foundational beliefs. It contrasts with approaches that are data-driven, evidence-based, or outcome-oriented, where the focus is on empirical observation or desired end results rather than predetermined starting points.

Premise-driven meaning with examples

• The legal team's argument was premise-driven, meticulously constructing its case from established legal precedents and interpretations. Each point advanced stemmed logically from those initial legal premises. The judges examined whether the original premises were valid, and whether the conclusion logically flowed from them. It demonstrated a structured and rigorous approach to presenting a case.
• The research project was decidedly premise-driven, starting with the hypothesis. The project then built all experimental design and analysis around the premises, ensuring that any findings were directly relevant to the core theoretical framework. It provided a structured, testable investigation with specific, pre-defined assumptions and objectives. It also allowed for the development of novel theoretical conclusions.
• The economic model employed was premise-driven. It began with assumptions about consumer behavior and market dynamics. The projections and forecasts generated depended heavily on the accuracy of these underlying premises. The model was only useful if the economy conformed to the assumptions. The output of the model reflected the logic of its initial, crucial, premises.
• The philosophical debate surrounding the existence of free will is often premise-driven, focusing on whether the premises of determinism or libertarianism. The participants try to prove the soundness of these fundamental philosophical positions before even beginning a discussion on human behavior. Each side carefully defends its core premises, arguing about their logical and ethical implications.
• The historical analysis of political events was clearly premise-driven, shaped by the historian's perspective and assumptions about power dynamics and historical context. The interpretation of events was highly dependent on these underlying, and often unstated, assumptions. The ultimate narrative was consistent with the stated initial political premises.