selfevident

Self-evident is an adjective describing a proposition that is regarded as true without needing proof or demonstration, because its truth is considered immediate or self-evident to rational reflection. The usual form is self-evident (with a hyphen); some older or alternate spellings use selfevident. In philosophy, the term denotes claims that are assumed to be manifestly true given the concepts involved, while in everyday language it can refer to beliefs regarded as obvious without argument.

In political and cultural discourse, self-evident truths are invoked to ground norms or rights. The phrase gained prominence in the United States Declaration of Independence, which speaks of “self-evident” truths about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The usage signals foundational status and universality, even though later interpretation shows that people may disagree about what qualifies as self-evident and on what basis such claims rest. Critics argue that what seems self-evident can reflect cultural assumptions, ideological commitments, or limited perspectives, rather than objective necessity.

Philosophically, discussions of self-evidence distinguish between intuitive knowledge and propositions justified by argument, evidence, or coherence within a system. In logic and mathematics, some axioms are described as self-evident or evident by their role, yet even these claims can be contested when the axioms are scrutinized or reformulated. Overall, the concept remains a fluid marker for claims deemed obvious within a given framework, rather than an unchallengeable predicate.

See also: axiom, tautology, common sense, apriori knowledge.