fundamentans

Fundamentans is a term encountered infrequently in scholarly writing, used to denote the set of foundational principles, assumptions, or conditions that ground a theory, system, or discourse. Derived from the Latin fundamentum, meaning “foundation,” fundamentans is often employed as a way to name the underlying base that supports derivations, explanations, or inferences within a given framework.

In philosophical discussions, fundamentans can be described as the non-empirical basis or axiomatic commitments upon which other propositions rely. Proponents view it as the essential groundwork that makes a theory coherent and navigable, while critics caution that identifying a definitive fundamentans is often contentious, as different perspectives may yield competing bases. The concept risks circularity if fundamentans are defined by what they are supposed to justify.

Applications of the idea appear across domains. In epistemology, the fundamentans of a theory of knowledge might include conditions of justification or reliable cognitive faculties. In moral philosophy, basic norms such as non-harm or autonomy could function as fundamentans for a broader ethical system. In formal disciplines, the term can be used to describe the axioms or priors that underpin a model or proof.

Limitations include its scarce and informal usage, which can lead to varied interpretations and a lack of precision. Many scholars prefer terms like grounding, basis, or foundational assumptions to express similar ideas in a more standardized way.

See also: foundationalism, grounding, epistemology, ontology, axiom.