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Single Idea 6937

[filed under theme 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 4. Aims of Reason ]

Full Idea

The object of reasoning is to find out, from the consideration of what we already know, something else which we do not know.

Gist of Idea

Reason aims to discover the unknown by thinking about the known

Source

Charles Sanders Peirce (The Fixation of Belief [1877], p. 7)

Book Ref

Peirce,Charles Sanders: 'Philosophical Writings of Peirce', ed/tr. Buchler,Justus [Dover 1940], p.7

A Reaction

I defy anyone to come up with a better definition of reasoning than that. The emphasis is on knowledge rather than truth, which you would expect from a pragmatist. …Actually the definition doesn't cover conditional reasoning terribly well.

The 27 ideas with the same theme [what good reasoning aims to achieve]:

241 We ought to follow where the argument leads us [Plato]
5082 Reason grasps generalities, while the senses grasp particulars [Aristotle]
1574 Reasoning distinguishes what is beneficial, and hence what is right [Aristotle]
2675 Reasoning is a way of making statements which makes them lead on to other statements [Aristotle]
1589 Aristotle is the supreme optimist about the ability of logos to explain nature [Roochnik on Aristotle]
1858 The mind is compelled by necessary truths, but not by contingent truths [Aquinas]
24024 The secret of the method is to recognise which thing in a series is the simplest [Descartes]
3603 Methodical thinking is cautious, analytical, systematic, and panoramic [Descartes, by PG]
2248 Reason says don't assent to uncertain principles, just as much as totally false ones [Descartes]
17213 In so far as men live according to reason, they will agree with one another [Spinoza]
19917 Without reason and human help, human life is misery [Spinoza]
5035 The two basics of reasoning are contradiction and sufficient reason [Leibniz]
3346 For Leibniz rationality is based on non-contradiction and the principle of sufficient reason [Leibniz, by Benardete,JA]
18236 Reason keeps asking why until explanation is complete [Kant, by Korsgaard]
21439 Religion and legislation can only be respected if they accept free and public examination [Kant]
5584 All objections are dogmatic (against propositions), or critical (against proofs), or sceptical [Kant]
3738 The hallmark of rationality is setting itself an end [Kant]
6937 Reason aims to discover the unknown by thinking about the known [Peirce]
14779 I reason in order to avoid disappointment and surprise [Peirce]
20573 Rather than instrumental reason, Habermas emphasises its communicative role [Habermas, by Oksala]
19303 Implication just accumulates conclusions, but inference may also revise our views [Harman]
3077 Reasoning might be defined in terms of its functional role, which is to produce knowledge [Harman]
12324 Consensus is the enemy of thought [Badiou]
1598 We prefer reason or poetry according to whether basics are intelligible or not [Roochnik]
16841 Good inference has mechanism, precision, scope, simplicity, fertility and background fit [Lipton]
4731 Good reasoning will avoid contradiction, enhance coherence, not ignore evidence, and maximise evidence [O'Grady]
20981 What justifies reliance on reason? Is it just a tool? Why is it better than blind belief? [Sen]