reason

1. n. consecutive thought, as in deduction or induction. Although at one time reason was considered a mental faculty, this meaning is typically not intended in current usage. See deductive reasoning; inductive reasoning.

2. n. in philosophy, the intellect (or nous) regarded as the source of true knowledge. See rationalism.

3. n. soundness of mind.

4. n. a statement offered to justify an action or decision or to explain the occurrence of an event.

5. vb. see reasoning.

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Psychology term of the day

October 11th 2024

method of difference

the second of the five canons of empirical science laid down by John Stuart Mill. It is meant to establish sufficient conditions for a phenomenon. For example, if under one condition, C1, an effect, E1, does not occur, and as C1 is changed to C2 the effect E1 does occur, it may be concluded that C2 is a sufficient cause of E1, and the alternative hypothesis, that C1 causes E1, can be eliminated. Thus, the effect is attributed to the “difference” between conditions C1 and C2. Also called difference canon.