What Does Reductio Ad Absurdum

Reductio ad absurdum is also known as “reducing to an absurdity.” It involves characterizing an opposing argument in such a way that it seems to be ridiculous, or the consequences of the position seem ridiculous.

What does the term reductio ad absurdum mean?

1 : disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion. 2 : the carrying of something to an absurd extreme.

What is the pattern of a reduction as absurdum argument?

Reductio ad absurdum is a mode of argumentation that seeks to establish a contention by deriving an absurdity from its denial, thus arguing that a thesis must be accepted because its rejection would be untenable.