[tacticalogic]

For example, a postulate of special relativity (Einstein) was a four dimensional space/time continuum. Not everyone reading the theory accepts this as a "given" but by his having stated it as a postulate, the boundaries of his work are clear, e.g. his theory wouldn't be applicable to a different geometry.

That seems intuitive. I can't think of an example where a theory doesn't include the postulates that go along with it.

But "postulates" and "axioms" are two different things. Why "postulates and axioms", and not just "postulates"? If the inclusion of "axioms" is necessary, but they are not the same as mathemtical axioms, what exactly are they?

I might agree that they should "declare their axioms and postulates" if I knew what it was I was being asked to agree to.

[Alamo-Girl]

Why don't we use a new term then? How about "given" or "presupposition?"