A little over 28 years ago I had written an article, published in a major daily, questioning a few assumptions of the late conservative thinker William F. Buckley, who had asserted that there had never been any significant literary-intellectual tradition outside the West.
Walking through Harvard Yard again alongside people who once had more spring in their step and more attitude in their demeanor, I found myself questioning a lot of the assumptions I'd held for years, both during college and since.
On might challenge Leibniz's reasoning on this point by questioning the assumption that there is a uniquely best possible Creation (an option noted by Adams 1987, though he challenges instead Leibniz's conclusion based on it).
Ed had recently written a Guardian article questioning the assumption that all art is leftwing, arguing that artists such as Damian Hirst are entrepreneurs and the epitome of rightwing, capitalistic thinking.
But now some researchers are questioning this assumption.
Maybe because the recession has shifted peoples' values, Mr. Ghesquiere seems to be questioning the assumption that luxury is couture fabrics and embroidery.
That night, I found myself seriously questioning this assumption I'd held since childhood: "You have to try to forget that while you're reading".
However, Ms. Royte missed an important point: When toilets consistently rank among the most water-guzzling household appliances, why aren't we questioning the assumption that our waste must be flushed away?
When you are the last in a string of practitioners, one of your most important jobs is to review each piece of the puzzle with fresh eyes, questioning every assumption and double-checking the reported results.
But more recently, some health care safety experts have begun questioning the assumption underlying the report's conclusions: that only health care systems, and not individual clinicians, could be held accountable for medical mistakes.
