Reasoning Backward (Noun)
Meaning
The reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The detective used a reasoning backward approach to piece together the events of the crime by assuming the killer's identity and working backward to find the clues.
- By applying reasoning backward, the researcher discovered the underlying assumptions that led to the conclusion, and thus improved the validity of the results.
- The student's answer to the math problem showcased flawed reasoning backward, as the steps to solve the equation didn't logically follow from the conclusion.
- Using reasoning backward, the historian proposed a theory about a significant event by assuming its occurrence and tracing the consequences backward to determine the likelihood of it happening.
- The scientist's experiment relied on reasoning backward, assuming a certain outcome and then working backward to design an experiment that could test its validity.