Supposition

A Supposition is a belief or assumption that something is true, even though there is no concrete proof or evidence to support it. It's essentially a starting point for reasoning or investigation, often based on prior knowledge, educated guesses, or intuition. Suppositions can be preliminary ideas or hypotheses formed to explore a topic, generate further questions, or predict future outcomes. The validity of a Supposition depends on the subsequent investigation or observation, which may confirm, refute, or refine the original assumption. It acts as a bridge between an initial observation or idea and a more definitive conclusion, guiding inquiry in a specific direction.

Supposition meaning with examples

• The detective began the investigation with the Supposition that the victim knew their attacker. This initial assumption, though lacking direct evidence, allowed them to narrow their focus and explore the relationships within the victim's life. Questioning friends and family became paramount based on this Supposition, driving the investigation forward until evidence either confirmed or challenged the theory.
• In order to understand the market trends, the marketing team formed the Supposition that consumers responded positively to environmentally-friendly packaging. This Supposition, though an educated guess, directed their market research. Surveys and analyses of purchasing behavior were conducted to determine whether the Supposition of sustainability being favored held true amongst shoppers.
• Before performing the experiment, the scientists made the Supposition that the new drug would cure the illness. Based on that premise, they designed the experimental protocol, choosing participant groups, dosages, and measurements based on the possibility of healing. Once results became available, the team then examined the validity of that supposition.
• The historian, analyzing historical records, started with the Supposition that the ancient civilization collapsed due to climate change. From this basic premise they began collecting and sifting through data pertaining to weather patterns and agricultural yields. This directed their research, the validity of the Supposition was later examined based on other evidence uncovered.