postulat

Postulat is a term used in several languages to denote a proposition taken as given for the purpose of argument, investigation, or theorizing. In mathematics and logic, a postulate (also postulate) is a statement assumed without proof from which other statements are derived. Distinctions are sometimes drawn between postulates and axioms, with postulates viewed as more intuitive starting points within a theory and axioms as more formal or foundational assumptions. Euclid’s postulates are among the most famous early examples, forming the basis of classical geometry. In modern science, postulates underlie theoretical frameworks, such as the postulates of special relativity, which include the constancy of the speed of light in vacuum and the equivalence of physical laws in all inertial frames.

Beyond mathematics and science, postulate also appears as a general premise or assumption in philosophy, epistemology, and method, guiding how a theory is developed or how data are interpreted. The term is used across several languages with related meanings. In German, for instance, Postulat can denote a formal proposal or demand to an authority, while in French, Polish, and related languages, postulat similarly refers to an assumption or proposition used as a basis for reasoning or inquiry. Etymologically, postulat comes from Latin postulatus, meaning “placed before” or “demanded.”

In practice, a postulate is intended to be accepted without proof to enable further analysis, construction, or deduction, though in some contexts it may later be proven or revised as theories evolve.