pembantahan

Pembantahan is the act of presenting a counter-argument or rebuttal against a claim, statement, or position. It seeks to challenge the original assertion by examining its premises, providing evidence, and using logical reasoning to demonstrate weaknesses or inaccuracies. The word derives from bantah, dispute; pembantahan is the noun form used in Indonesian and Malay.

In practice, pembantahan occurs across several domains. In legal contexts, it refers to a formal response to charges or allegations, where the respondent offers facts and arguments intended to undermine the claimant's position. In academia and debate, pembantahan is a standard method for testing ideas, exposing fallacies, and offering alternative interpretations. In journalism and public communication, institutions or individuals may issue pembantahan statements to correct misreporting or to counter allegations.

Effective pembantahan relies on clarity, evidence, and logical structure. It usually presents a concise thesis, supports it with data or references, addresses major premises of the opposing view, and ends with a conclusion or call for revision. It should distinguish between refuting a claim and merely denying it, and avoid ad hominem or misquotation.

Limitations include potential bias, incomplete evidence, or overgeneralization. Ethical pembantahan emphasizes accuracy, fairness, and transparency to contribute constructively to discourse.

See also: bantah, bantahan, refutation, rebuttal.