Refuting consists of denying something by exposing arguments contrary to what is rejected.
The first thing we are going to do to understand the meaning of the term refute is to determine its etymological origin. In this case, we can say that it is a word that derives from Latin, specifically, from the verb refute , which can be translated as “reject and disrupt.”
Refuting is a verb that refers to the action of denying, objecting or denying something based on the presentation of arguments contrary to what is rejected. What is done when refuting something, therefore, is opposing what is stated by another or others, giving reasons that justify said opposition.
For example: “The official expert, based on the DNA studies, was in charge of refuting the statements of the defense lawyer,” “The coach tried to refute the rumors of a conflict on the campus by opening the training doors and showing the the players working in harmony and with smiles” , “I don't think anyone will be able to refute this argument” .
Example of refute
Let's see how a rebuttal works. A politician can accuse a mayor of having done nothing in favor of public health during his mandate.
The mayor, faced with this attack, organized a press conference to refute the accusation: there he stated that investment in public health grew by 25% in the last five years, that two hospitals were built and that the municipality hired fifteen doctors to work. in various care centers. With these data, therefore, the mayor intends to refute his opponent .
Refuting is common in discussions.
Phases of a refutation
When refuting another person's statements, it must be done with a clear approach and carrying out three phases:
1- We will proceed to present what that person said.
2- The time has come to refute. Therefore, it is when we must proceed to point out the aspects of said individual's speech that are false, impossible, contrary to logic, that are useless and that go against good education. All this will be done by exposing them and then establishing the motives and reasons that completely destroy them.
3- It is the moment of conclusion. In this phase, what must be done, once the original arguments and the pertinent refutation have been presented, is to conclude and make it clear to the recipient why the first ones were absolutely out of place, false or illogical.
Thus, as we have mentioned, this process is clearly seen in electoral debates, when candidates try to refute their opponents in order to obtain the votes of citizens.
Rebut an accusation
Also, a teenager whose father accuses him of not trying hard at school , for his part, can refute his parent.
The young man thus reminds his father that he did not go out the last three weekends to stay at home studying. This shows him that he has made sacrifices to improve his academic performance.
The term in literature
Within the field of literature there is what is known as refutation, which is the tool used to “dismantle” the approaches, theories and texts of some authors.
To develop the refutation, resources such as contradiction and adynaton are used.