What are assumptions?

An assumption is something that you think would be the case, even without proof.

For example, here are some assumptions people may make:

• Having fun costs money.
• The reward comes later.
• To have an education, you need to go to school.
• Shopping at XYZ will cost more than shopping at ABC.

Watch the video to see these assumptions broken down and how they come to be assumptions that people make.

People can have assumptions for a range of things like social all the way to how we conduct our work. In fact, assumptions lie at our belief system and guide how we interact with the world.

Let’s look at an example: Arriving at school late and you arrive at the same time as your friend coincidentally. A teacher is upset at your tardiness – but has made a mistake as to why you’re late, do you correct him?

Review the video to see what happens and what assumptions are at play here.

See how assumptions are at the basis of how we act and what we belief to be true – but they have no proof. This is an interesting combination isn’t it? Now, let’s move on to see why assumptions are important.

Why are assumptions important?

They’re a source of weakness because there is no proof. Most times, people won’t recognise their assumptions, but when you learn to, you’ll start to think more critically about your own conclusions and the conclusions that people make. What assumptions underlie these decisions/actions/conclusions and are they justified? Can they be proven incorrect?

They’re helpful for problem solving – sometimes with financial consequences. They’re also identified in court reports when an expert provides a report.

Watch the video for the story of an accountant how used the ability to identify assumptions and saved a family from bankruptcy.

Once you’re able to identify an assumption, you’ll feel a stronger in your thinking – that your thinking is more robust.

Let’s find assumptions now

Let’s go back to this thought experiment from the previous checkpoint:

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

What assumptions are there?

• That sound has to be heard to exist.
  
• That sounds requires a receiver.
• That sounds have to be audible to the human ear.

What answer to the thought experiment would this provide? How can each of these assumptions be proven to be not true?

So, what is the answer to this thought experiment?

It comes down to how you define the word ‘sound’. If you define it as being something that has to be heard by a human, then no, it doesn’t make a sound. But if you define sound as sound waves being produced, then yes, it does make a sound.

For the above, we've considered:

• The requirement
• The words
• What we understand them to mean and broken down our assumptions
• Came to answers

See, thinking is a multi-step process of questions and answers. The more questions you ask, and the more time you spend thinking, and when you can gain insight into the thinking of others, the better your thinking will be.

The first is, as we’ve done here, is identifying an assumption. Something we assume would be the case, but has no proof – that is, it’s a big weakness in thinking.

Key Rules to remember

• Assumptions make up a lot of our beliefs and guide our actions
• Assumptions are beliefs held without no proof.
• Assumptions are weakness areas that can be targeted to break down an argument

Practice time!

Now, it's your turn to practice.

Here’s a thought experiment #2.

Remember, there is no formal answer and this experiment is provided to help stimulate your creativity and critical thinking (a ‘thought experiment’ is provided at the end of every checkpoint except checkpoint 18).

Thought experiment 2:

How do you know that when you see "green" and I see "green", they are the same colour "green"? Maybe green to me looks like red does to you, but we've both just learned to call it the same thing?

Take your time to work through this thought experiment as it is not assessed and provided to help develop your deeper thinking skills. Think about various components of the question. What questions will you ask yourself and how do you answer your questions?

Now, let’s turn to the checkpoint questions.

Click on the button below and start your practice questions. We recommend doing untimed mode first, and then, when you're ready, do timed mode.

Every question has two solutions videos after you complete the question. The first is a quick 60 second video that shows you how our expert answers the question quickly. The second video is a more in-depth 5-steps or less explainer video that shows you the steps to take to answer the question. It's really important that you review the second video because that's where you'll learn additional tips and tricks.

Once you're done with the practice questions, move on to the next checkpoint.

Now, let’s get started on your practice questions.

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