Thesis (Logic)

The thesis is the exact judgment put forward by the opponent, which he substantiates in the process of argumentation . The thesis is the main structural element of argumentation and answers the question: what is substantiated.

Antonym of thesis - antithesis .

Thesis Rules ^[1] :

1) The thesis throughout the evidence (or rebuttal) must remain the same

Violation of this rule leads to an error called “substitution of the thesis” (“ignoratio elenchi”). Its essence is that the thesis which is intended to be refuted (proved) is not refuted (proved).

A particular manifestation of the substitution of the thesis is a mistake called: “He who proves too much does not prove anything” (“Qui nimium probat, nihil probat”). It arises when people try to prove a stronger statement, which may be false, instead of the thesis put forward.

2) The thesis should be formulated clearly and accurately, should not allow ambiguity

Compliance with this rule warns against ambiguity and ambiguity in the proof of a situation. Sometimes a person speaks a lot and as if proving something, but what exactly he proves remains unclear due to the uncertainty of his thesis. The ambiguity of the thesis sometimes leads to fruitless disputes arising from the fact that the parties have a different understanding of the situation being proved.