Short form of the question: is "reductio ad miseratum" correct Latin?
But if you're interested, here's the whole story:
"Reductio ad absurdum" is a logical argument where you use the premise to deduce an absurd conclusion-- since the conclusion is so absurd it can't possibly be true, you can reject the premise.
In a similar vein, I've noticed that people sometimes argue that a given course of action would have horrible consequences, and therefore the action under consideration cannot possibly by entertained. Colloquially, I have called this sort of argument "reductio ad miseratum", which is my own way of trying to say "reduced to misery" or something similar.
Unfortunately, I've never had a day of latin class, and am now about to write a little article about "reductio ad miseratum". So if I'm going to correct any grammatical errors, now is the time. Help!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_absurdum
There is no such Latin word as "miseratum" -- there's miser, -a, -um (adjective), misere (adverb), miseratio (noun), miserandus, -a, -um (adjective), miserabilis (adjective), misereo (verb), and others -- but no "miseratum" anywhere in ancient Latin.
If you want to use that noun to complete your invented phrase, then use "miserationem."
"Reducio ad miserationem" is precisely what I was looking for-- thank you.
To determine if "reductio ad miseratum" is correct Latin, we can break it down and analyze its components:
1. "Reductio" - This is a Latin term that translates to "reduction" in English. It refers to the process of reducing or reducing something.
2. "Ad" - In Latin, "ad" is a preposition that usually means "to" or "towards." It indicates a direction or purpose.
3. "Miseratum" - This term seems to be derived from the Latin word "miseratus" or "miserabilis," both of which relate to misery or compassion. However, it does not accurately convey the intended meaning of "reduction to misery."
Based on these components, "reductio ad miseratum" does not seem to be a correct Latin phrase that conveys the intended meaning of being "reduced to misery." A more accurate translation might be "reductio ad miseriam," which means "reduction to misery" in Latin.
However, it's important to note that I am an AI language model and not a Latin expert. For definitive confirmation and to ensure accuracy, it would be best to consult with a Latin scholar or expert to validate the correctness of the phrase.