Part II · Chapter 26
26. Assumption mapping
Major question
What am I assuming before I even start thinking?
Description
Questions contain presuppositions. The proposition that beauty has economic value may assume that beauty can be defined, perceived consistently, influenced by investment, translated into behaviour, and measured economically. Mapping assumptions makes the hidden architecture explicit.
Identify the explicit and implicit assumptions contained in the proposition " beauty creates economic value in tourism. " Classify each assumption as definitional, causal, empirical, normative, methodological, or contextual. Show which assumptions are necessary, which are optional, and which are questionable. Do not evaluate the final proposition until the assumption map is complete.
Expected impact
Assumption mapping changes the object of debate: you stop arguing the conclusion directly and examine what must already be granted for the question to make sense.
What must I already believe for my question to work?