Assumptions and Presumptions are common in all walks of life, and often get us into a big pile of poo-poo.
Some people may claim that both words, “assumption” and “presumption” have the same meaning. To do that would be to make an “Ass” of “U” and “me” = ass-u-me.
According to “Merriam Webster” dictionary :
“Although presume and assume both mean “to take something as true,” “presume” implies more confidence or evidence backed reasoning. An “assumption” suggests there is little evidence supporting your guess.
Think carefully before using them interchangeably or you may lose some meaning.
Origin of Presume vs. Assume
In the 1828, “An American Dictionary of the English Language“, Noah Webster nicely distinguishes the different uses of the words. He defines presume as “to take or suppose to be true or entitled to belief, without examination or positive proof, or on the strength of probability,” and assume as “to take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact.”
In legalese, the Courts allege we have the “presumption of innocence.” This may occur in criminal cases, where the “burden of proof” lies with the “Prosecutors” to evidence “beyond reasonable doubt”.
In civil matters, however, we are “guilty” or “not guilty” with no opportunity to plead “guiltless. And part of the reason, it seems, is because Law Courts are, as DWM says, “foreign vessels.”
Courts around the world are “foreign vessels in dry-dock”, using maritime language operating under admiralty.
admiralty “court-martials”, offenders are guilty until they can prove themselves innocent.
In Australia, “Burden of proof” refers to the obligation of a party to prove a disputed fact or issue in court. While standard of proof refers to the degree of certainty required to establish that fact or issue.
In civil cases, the standard of proof is “on the balance of probabilities.”
This means that the plaintiff must prove its case to a degree of likelihood that exceeds 50%. And this standard requires the plaintiff to establish that it is more likely than not that its version of events is true.
Based on what? “Assumption” and “Presumption”?
Assumptions and Presumptions
Again, according to “Merriam Webster” dictionary, both words derive from the Latin verb sumere, meaning “to take.”
The ancestor of presume was formed by joining that verb with the Latin prefix prae- (pre- in English), meaning “before,” whereas the ancestor of assume was formed with ad-, meaning “to” or “toward.”
Translated: praesumere means “to take in advance,” and adsumere, “to take to oneself.”
Hence, for Webster, to “presume something” is to take it to be true or likely in advance because it is “entitled to belief” or because of “the strength of probability.”
And to assume something is to take it and adopt it as fact.
In the fiction world, people assume and presume that these words have become interchangeable, and in actual usage this is often the case.
Unless you challenge these definitions, and demand to see solid proof.
According to DWM, as both words are “No Contract” so he doesn’t use either in any CSSCPSGP lawsuits.
Hint:
Question everything, especially material issued by “Government Agencies”, “Corporations” and “Lawyer/liars”.
Never pre-sume any thing.
Never ass-u-me any thing.
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