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Single Idea 6253

[from 'Treatise 4: The Moral Sense' by Francis Hutcheson, in 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 1. On Reason ]

Full Idea

Reason is our power of finding out true propositions.

Gist of Idea

Reason is our power of finding out true propositions

Source

Francis Hutcheson (Treatise 4: The Moral Sense [1728], §I)

Book Reference

'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.307


A Reaction

This strikes me as a very good definition. I don't see how you can define reason without mentioning truth, and you can't believe in reason if you don't believe in truth. The concept of reason entails the concept of a good reason.