Ausgangsüberzeugung

Ausgangsüberzeugung is a German term used in philosophy, argumentation, and related disciplines to denote the initial conviction or premise that underlies a reasoning process. It refers to the starting stance or assumption that shapes how evidence is interpreted and how conclusions are drawn. The concept emphasizes that reasoning does not begin in a vacuum: preconceptions influence questions asked, data emphasized, and the interpretation of results.

Etymology and usage provide that Ausgangsüberzeugung combines Ausgang (starting point or outset) with Überzeugung (conviction or belief). In scholarly writing, it is used to discuss how a person’s or a theory’s starting beliefs can bias the analysis, frame problems, and affect the evaluation of arguments. It is closely related to notions such as presupposition and priors in Bayesian reasoning, but it remains a descriptive term about stance rather than a formal methodological rule.

In practice, identifying one’s Ausgangsüberzeugung is seen as a step toward rigorous argumentation: making premises explicit, testing conclusions against alternative starting points, and seeking disconfirming evidence. Critics note that unexamined Ausgangsüberzeugungen can lead to confirmation bias or dogmatism, so robust inquiry often involves challenging these premises, considering counterarguments, and, where possible, formalizing assumptions.

The term is most common in German-language texts. In English, it is often described with phrases like starting conviction, initial assumption, or presupposition rather than as a fixed lexical entry.