Opinion

Opinion

In general, an opinion is a subjective belief, and is the result of emotion or interpretation of facts. An opinion may be supported by an argument, although people may draw opposing opinions from the same set of facts. Opinions rarely change without new arguments being presented. However, it can be reasoned that one opinion is better supported by the facts than another by analysing the supporting arguments.[1] In casual use, the term opinion may be the result of a person's perspective, understanding, particular feelings, beliefs, and desires. It may refer to unsubstantiated information, in contrast to knowledge and fact-based beliefs.

Collective or professional opinions are defined as meeting a higher standard to substantiate the opinion. (see below)

Contents

Epistemology

In economics, other social sciences and philosophy, analysis based on opinion is referred to as normative analysis (what ought to be), as opposed to positive analysis, which is based on scientific observation (what materially is or is experimentally demonstrable).

Historically, the distinction of demonstrated knowledge and opinion was articulated by Ancient Greek philosophers. Today, Plato's analogy of the divided line is a well-known illustration of the distinction between knowledge and opinion, or knowledge and belief, in customary terminology of contemporary philosophy. Opinions can be persuasive, but only the assertions they are based on can be said to be true or false.

Collective and professional opinions

The public opinion is the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by the population. Public opinion can also be defined as the complex collection of opinions of many different people and the sum of all their views.

Scientific opinion

A "scientific opinion" is the general opinion of a professional scientific body gained through extensive research with a reproducible, unbiased conclusion soundly based upon the facts derived from the experiment[2]. A scientific opinion which represents the formally-agreed consensus of a scientific body or establishment, often takes the form of a published position paper citing the research producing the scientific evidence upon which the opinion is based. "The scientific opinion" (or scientific consensus) can be compared to "the public opinion" and generally refers to the collection of the opinions of many different scientific organizations and entities and individual scientists in the relevant field.

Legal opinion

A "legal opinion" or "closing opinion" is a type of professional opinion, usually contained in a formal legal-opinion letter, given by an attorney to a client or a third party. Most legal opinions are given in connection with business transactions. The opinion expresses the attorney's professional judgment regarding the legal matters addressed. A legal opinion is not a guarantee that a court will reach any particular result.[3] However, a mistaken or incomplete legal opinion may be grounds for a professional malpractice claim against the attorney, pursuant to which the attorney may be required to pay the claimant damages incurred as a result of relying on the faulty opinion.

Judicial opinion

A "judicial opinion" or "opinion of the court" is an opinion of a judge or group of judges that accompanies and explains an order or ruling in a controversy before the court, laying out the rationale and legal principles the court relied on in reaching its decision.[4] Judges in the United States are usually required to provide a well-reasoned basis for their decisions and the contents of their judicial opinions may contain the grounds for appealing and reversing of their decision by a higher court.

Editorial opinion

An "editorial opinion" is the stated opinion of a newspaper or of its publisher, as conveyed on the editorial page.

See also

Notes

External links


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  • opinion — [ ɔpinjɔ̃ ] n. f. • v. 1190; lat. opinio, de opinari → opiner I ♦ 1 ♦ Manière de penser, de juger; attitude de l esprit qui tient pour vraie une assertion; assertion que l esprit accepte ou rejette (généralement en admettant une possibilité d… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • opinion — et advis, Sententia. Opinion et jugement, Opinio. L opinion et sentence d aucun qui n est pas parfaite, et laisse beaucoup de choses qu il debvoit dire, Curta sententia. L opinion des fols est estimée du populaire, Valet in vulgus insipientium… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • opinion — opin·ion /ə pin yən/ n 1 a: a belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge b: a formal expression of a judgment or appraisal by an expert see also opinion testimony at testimony compare …   Law dictionary

  • opinion — UK US /əˈpɪnjən/ noun ► [C] a thought or belief about something or someone: an opinion on sth »What s your opinion on Britain joining the Euro? have/hold an opinion »She has strong opinions on how people should dress for work. express/give your… …   Financial and business terms

  • opinion — Opinion. s. f. Avis de celuy qui opine sur quelque affaire mise en deliberation. Prendre les opinions. aller aux opinions. les Juges sont aux opinions. il y avoit trois opinions. il a esté de l opinion d un tel. il appuya son opinion de plusieurs …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Opinion — «Opinion» Canción de Nirvana Box set With the Lights Out Publicación noviembre de 2004 …   Wikipedia Español

  • opinion — opinion, view, belief, conviction, persuasion, sentiment are comparable when they mean a more or less clearly formulated idea or judgment which one holds as true or valid. An opinion is a more or less carefully thought out conclusion concerning… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Opinion — O*pin ion, n. [F., from L. opinio. See {Opine}.] 1. That which is opined; a notion or conviction founded on probable evidence; belief stronger than impression, less strong than positive knowledge; settled judgment in regard to any point of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • opinión — sustantivo femenino 1. Idea o concepto particular que se tiene sobre una persona o sobre una cosa: Mi opinión es que no debemos hacerle caso. He escuchado varias opiniones sobre el tema. 2. (no contable) Uso/registro: restringido. Fama o… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • opinion — [ə pin′yən, ōpin′yən] n. [ME opinioun < OFr < L opinio < opinari, to think, akin to optare, to select, desire: see OPTION] 1. a belief not based on absolute certainty or positive knowledge but on what seems true, valid, or probable to… …   English World dictionary

  • opinion — (n.) c.1300, from O.Fr. opinion (12c.), from L. opinionem (nom. opinio) opinion, conjecture, what one thinks, from stem of opinari think, judge, suppose, opine, from PIE *op to choose (see OPTION (Cf. option)). Where there is much desire to learn …   Etymology dictionary

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