Schlussfolgerung

Schlussfolgerung is a German noun that denotes the result of reasoning or the final point reached in a discussion. The word combines Schluss, meaning end or conclusion, with folgerung, meaning inference or deduction. In everyday language as well as in scholarly contexts, a Schlussfolgerung is the statement or claim that follows from a set of premises or observations.

In logic and argumentation, a Schlussfolgerung is a conclusion that follows from given premises. A correct Schlussfolgerung requires that the premises entail the conclusion; it can be valid or invalid depending on the structure of the argument. In formal contexts, it is often described as a logical consequence, deduction, or inference.

In everyday language and scientific writing, Schlussfolgerung also refers to the concluding part of an argument, study, or report. This use involves summarizing findings, drawing inferences, and indicating implications, limitations, and possible directions for future work. The quality of a Schlussfolgerung depends on the coherence between the evidence presented and the claims made.

Types of Schlussfolgerungen include deductive, inductive, and abductive reasoning. Deductive Schlussfolgerungen are certain if the premises are true; inductive Schlussfolgerungen generalize from observed instances; abductive Schlussfolgerungen infer the most plausible explanation for a set of observations. Poor or unfounded Schlussfolgerungen arise from faulty premises, faulty reasoning, or overgeneralization.

Translations into English vary by context; most commonly, Schlussfolgerung is rendered as "conclusion" or "inference." In German texts, it is common to find sections titled Schlussfolgerungen or Fazit, signaling the summarizing or concluding part of the discussion.