hoofdpremisse

Hoofdpremisse is a term used in argumentation and logic to describe the central or primary premise on which an argument rests. The word is Dutch, derived from hoofd meaning “head” or “main” and premisse meaning “premise.” In many arguments the hoofdpremisse is the claim that the rest of the argument seeks to support, while additional premises function as evidence or reasoning steps that reinforce that main claim.

In traditional syllogistic reasoning, the hoofdpremisse aligns with what is commonly called the major premise. For example: All mammals are animals (major/hoofdpremisse). Whales are mammals (minor premise). Therefore, whales are animals (conclusion). The structure shows how the hoofdpremisse anchors the chain of reasoning.

The concept is useful for evaluating arguments: identifying the hoofdpremisse helps determine whether the argument’s strength depends on an accepted claim. If the hoofdpremisse is weak, controversial, or unproven, the overall argument is weakened, even if the supporting premises are true. Conversely, even strong supporting premises may not rescue a bad hoofdpremisse.

In practice, hoofdpremisse can be explicit or implicit. Some arguments present a clearly stated main premise, while others rely on a central assumption that is not overtly stated. Critical assessment often involves examining whether the hoofdpremisse is justified, empirically grounded, and free from fallacious reasoning.

See also: premise, major premise, minor premise, conclusion, syllogism.