What determines the acceptability of an assumption, or if one assumption is preferrable to another?

Question

A proposition is an assumption if and only if it is granted without logical inference or empirical data. For example, the law of non-contradiction or the principles of the scientific method.

Answer 1

'A proposition is an assumption if and only if it is granted without logical inference or empirical data.'

I am not certain that I accept your definition for 'assumption'.


The subject doing the choosing and the nature of its object. There are many possibilities, one is the need to see the future as resembling the past. Often if an assumption or possibility contradicts the subjects concept for its future, it contradicts something of the subjects past or particular history. Preference, on the other hand, when confronted with two or more possibilities shall choose the positive (optimist)and not the hypothesis that spurs the Judgment; a negative for self. This condition may inverse or contradict for a subject whose Judgment forms in a greater quantity than the subjects Will, i.e. a pessimist. The Judgment is negative, the Will is positive.

Answer 2

An assumption's acceptability is in exact proportion with the accuracy of the component parts one uses to form it. The status of 'assumption' can only be bestowed upon the ideation if it is/has been able to be compared to previous behaviours or similar events, whereby an exhibited behaviour, reaction or occurence allows one to anticipate, by way of comparison, the likelihood of the acceptability of the assumption's claims holding any truth. In the absence of any comparable occurences, behaviours or events, then the status of 'assumption' cannot be used: it is therefore demoted to 'guess' status.
The preferential treatment of one assumption over the other could be driven by several notions: the amount of comprable material available for one assumption exceeding that of the other; the assumer's opinion of the authenticity of the comparable information he/she has been given; the general degree of scepticism with which the assumer's personality would ordinarily view/consider such information; a subconcious desire within the assumer to weight his assumptions toward the outcome he/she would hope to reach; and, dislike for the individual or event to which the assumption relates
Since assumption is at first individually formed before being shared it shall therefore forever occupy an area of over-subjectivity, reflected in the indiviuals differing perspectives on the same circumstance and their adamancy that their assumption is closest to the eventual outcome. It does in many ways devalue the humble assumption since when it stands alone, naked of any material facts, it represents nothing more than an-idea-someone-might-have. Indeed, in the absence of proof, assumption carries as much weight as a guess.
I insist that you assume i have no philisophical insight into this area, and, that my assumption that you shall do this is preferred over any other responses you receive.

Answer 3

The closer it fits the known facts.