RESOURCE 3
Assumption
Is an unstated premise, one that is taken from granted and never made explicit.
Actually the word ‘assumption’ is ambiguous since it could mean a stated premise
that is the starting point of an argument ‘we assume x.. therefore’.
We all make assumptions most of the time; if we didn’t, any discussion would
require so much stage setting that we’d never get to the point. Because we share
many assumptions it is relatively easy to communicate with one another. But when
two people try to discuss an issue on which they hold very different assumptions,
confusion and misunderstandings are likely to arise.
For instance, in a discussion of so-called computer viruses, one eminent scientist
argued that there are good reasons for considering computer viruses a form of life
since, like ordinary viruses, they are capable of replicating themselves and are
parasitic. Another scientist pointed out that even if we concede the point that
computer viruses are very like ordinary viruses, this still doesn’t prove that
computer viruses should be considered living organisms since it is contentious to
say that ordinary viruses are alive themselves. The first scientist was arguing on
the basis of a strong analogy between computer viruses and ordinary viruses and
the second scientist was challenging the conclusion which could be drawn even if
the analogy actually held. The second scientist’s point was that the first scientist
was making a large assumption about whether ordinary viruses are alive or not.
Only if ordinary viruses were alive would the first scientist’s conclusion be
warranted. This assumption was not made explicit in the first scientist’s argument:
he only gave good reasons for there being a strong analogy between computer and
ordinary viruses. Once the assumption had been made explicit it can be discussed
and its truth or falsity ascertained. In this case the question of whether or not a
virus is a living thing could be addressed and then, if this is established, the
strength of the analogy between biological and computer viruses could be
examined.
Some people joke that when you assume you make an ass out of “u” and “me”. This
isn’t just a bad pun; it is misleading. We all have to make assumptions most of the
time and there is nothing intrinsically wrong with making them provided that the
assumptions are actually true and we are aware of what those assumptions are. I
supposed the point of the comment is that in certain circumstances it is very
important not to make any assumptions before evidence has been gathered. This is
very different from saying all assumptions should be avoided, which would be an
impossible goal.