Vorannahme

Vorannahme is a German term that denotes an assumption or belief held before a discussion, investigation, or assessment. It is formed from vor- (“before”) and Annahme (“assumption”). The concept is used in everyday language as well as in scientific and philosophical contexts to describe starting points that influence interpretation and inquiry. A Vorannahme can be neutral and practical, but it also has the potential to bias reasoning if it remains unexamined.

In philosophy and science, Vorannahmen refer to foundational beliefs or expectations that underlie the formulation of hypotheses, theories, or methodologies. These assumptions may concern the reliability of instruments, the basic structure of a phenomenon, or the applicability of a model. Scholars emphasize identifying and making explicit such Vorannahmen to promote transparency, test alternative explanations, and reduce unacknowledged bias in argumentation and analysis.

In statistics and cognitive science, the related concept of a prior reflects a Vorannahme about the likely state of the world before new data are observed. Priors influence how evidence updates beliefs, especially in Bayesian reasoning. The term can also appear in everyday discourse when preconceptions about a topic shape judgments and interpretations.

Overall, Vorannahme denotes preexisting beliefs that frame inquiry and interpretation. Recognizing and critically examining these preconceptions is considered important for achieving rigorous, evidence-based reasoning.

See also: Vorurteil, Annahme, Hypothese, Prior (Statistics).