assumedtheory
Assumedtheory is a theoretical framework used in philosophy, logic, and related disciplines that centers on the deliberate and explicit adoption of a fixed set of assumptions, called the assumed theory, for the purpose of deductive reasoning and analysis within a defined domain. In this approach, the propositions and conclusions derived from the assumed theory are contingent on the specified assumptions and are not taken as claims about the real world unless supported by further evidence. The framework emphasizes transparency, allowing researchers to isolate the consequences of particular assumptions, compare alternative assumption sets, and perform sensitivity analysis to determine how results vary with changes in the assumed theory.
Origins and scope: While drawing on longstanding practices of hypothetical-deductive reasoning, assumedtheory formalizes the process of
Core concepts: explicit specification of assumptions; separation between the assumed theory and empirical content; derivation of
Methodology: define the assumed theory; derive predictions or theorems; assess robustness under perturbations; document limitations; consider
Applications: theoretical research in philosophy and mathematics; economic and social modeling under controlled assumptions; AI and
Criticisms: can produce misleading results if assumptions are carried uncritically; risk of detaching analysis from empirical
See also: hypothetical deductive method, modeling, thought experiment, formal epistemology.