Axiom (logic)

In logic, an axiom is a fundamental statement or principle assumed to be true without proof, serving as a starting point for reasoning and building a logical system. It acts like a foundational rule from which other truths are derived. Axioms are carefully chosen to be self-evident or universally accepted within a particular framework, enabling mathematicians and logicians to develop complex theories systematically. They are not arbitrary; their selection influences the entire structure of logical or mathematical systems built upon them.