Reason and Rationale

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Word Menu > The Human Condition > Cognition > Reasoning and Intuition > Reason and Rationale

adduce - (vb) bring forward, cite, allege
analogy - inference derived from likeness between two or more things
analysis - systematic separation and examination of parts
antithesis - contrast or opposition, esp. of ideas or argument in dialectic process
apologia - reasoned defense or justification
apprehension - understanding
argument - chain or sequence of reasons leading to conclusion
assumption - statement accepted as true before being proved
axiom - generally accepted truth or principle
biconditional - (adj) pertaining to the relation between two statements that is valid only when both are true or false
brainstorm - (vb) engage in a session of energetic thinking, often in a group; (n) sudden valuable idea
circumscribe - (vb) define clearly
clarification - something that reduces confusion or makes an issue understandable
clincher - final, irrefutable statement that wins an argument
cogent - (adj) compelling, persuasive; relevant
cogitation - deep thinking
cognition - process of knowing or gaining knowledge, esp. intellectual process
cognitive - (adj) involving the acquisition of knowledge
coherent - (adj) logically clear and consistent
comprehension - intellectual understanding, mental grasp
conception - ability and process of forming ideas
confutation - refutation of an argument
conjecture - inference, guess
construe - (vb) explain, interpret; understand
contend - (vb) argue, contest
contest - (vb) challenge, attempt to refute
contradiction - assertion of contrary statement; opposition
contradistinction - distinction by contrast or opposition
contraposition - antithesis, opposition
controvert - (vb) dispute, deny, contradict, contest
convention - general agreement in principle
convince - (vb) prevail in argument, persuade
correct - (vb) remove errors, rectify; (adj) factual, true
counterexample - example that refutes another statement
counterproposal - alternative proposal made after rejecting initial proposal
criterion - measure or standard of judgment
crux - central or decisive point in argument
cumulative - (adj) increasing by successive additions; tending to lead to the same conclusion
cut-and-dried - (adj) done according to routine, formula, or set plan
data - facts or information; material providing grounds for discussion
datum - given fact on which argument or premise is based or from which conclusion may be drawn
debate - (vb) dispute, deliberate; examine question or issue verbally; (n) formal argument or discussion of opposing views
deduction - reasoning process that proceeds from general to particular
define - (vb) determine or describe in specific terms
definition - formal statement or explanation of meaning
definitive - (adj) conclusive; most reliable or complete
delimit - (vb) set boundaries or limits
demystify - (vb) explain clearly so as to remove confusion
determine - (vb) define, settle, fix, ascertain, limit
dialectic - art or practice of logical discussion, esp. in investigating truth of a theory or opinion
didactic - (adj) instructive, pertaining to teaching
differentiate - (vb) distinguish; mark or perceive differences
discursive reasoning - reasoning that draws inferences from logical thought patterns
disjunction - separation into elements
disprove - (vb) refute
dispute - (vb) contend, argue
disquisition - formal inquiry or discourse
dissect - (vb) analyze
dissertation - disquisition, discussion; essay
egghead - Informal. intellectual person, often with pretentious manner
epistemic - (adj) concerning knowledge
esemplastic - (adj) capable of shaping diverse elements into a unified whole
examination - thorough, detailed investigation or study
excogitate - (vb) think out, contrive
explicate - (vb) interpret, explain
expostulate - (vb) reason earnestly, usu. against something
extrapolate - (vb) infer an unknown from something that is known
fact - something known to be true or real
facultative - (adj) relating to mental activity or capacity
fallacy - false idea, error in reasoning
forensic - (adj) pertaining to argumentation
forethought - premeditation
generalization - general inference derived from particular
gist - essential point of argument or story
grasp - comprehension
hypothesis - unproved assumption for debate or discussion; proposition
idea - concept, mental impression, or notion
ideation - process of forming ideas or images
ignoratio elenchi - Latin. lit. ignorance of proof; type of fallacy using irrelevant proof
implausible - (adj) not particularly believable
implication - something implied or suggested as naturally inferred or understood
induction - reasoning process that proceeds from particular to general
inference - logical conclusion drawn from premise
information - knowledge, data
intellect - mental faculty for knowing, judging, perceiving, and reasoning
intellection - intellectual activity
intellectualize - (vb) seek or consider rational content or form of; apply reason and ignore emotional or psychological significance of
interpretation - explanation of meaning
irrelevant - (adj) not pertinent, immaterial
ken - (vb) Scottish. know, discern
last word - conclusive point in discussion
logic - method of sound reasoning that relates sequence of facts, events, or notions
lucid - (adj) clearly expressed
middle ground - reasonable position between extremes
moot - (adj) open to discussion or debate; irrelevant to an issue in debate
notion - idea, proposition, theory
nub - point, gist
perception - capacity for comprehension; keen mental faculty or observation
perspicacious - (adj) endowed with keen mental perception
perspicuous - (adj) presented in clear and precise manner
pertinence - relevance to the matter at hand
polemic - controversial argument; person who argues in opposition to another
position - point of view; statement of proposition or thesis
postulate - hypothesis assumed as basis for line of reasoning
prehension - mental understanding
premise - something assumed as basis for argument or position
proposition - anything stated for consideration or discussion or to be proved
proviso - conditional stipulation
ratiocination - process of careful, precise reasoning
ratio cognoscendi - Latin. lit. grounds of knowledge; grounds by which something is known
rational - (adj) conforming to reason
rationale - fundamental reason, basis, or explanation
reason - power to form logical conclusions and sound judgments
reasoning - orderly use of mental faculties to reach conclusions and draw inferences
reductionism - simplification of a complex concept, phenomenon, or issue, esp. oversimplification or distortion
reflection - careful consideration of something
refutation - use of evidence to prove something false
relation - connection between things that belong or function together
riddle - cleverly puzzling or confounding question
rumination - extended meditation; going over of something in one’s mind
sophistry - deceptive or fallacious reasoning
sound reasoning - valid thinking
specious - (adj) unsound though appearing to be true
speculation - assumption of truth based on insufficient evidence
standard - criterion for judgment; established rule or measure
statement - proposition, presentation of point
sticky wicket - Chiefly Brit. difficult problem requiring sound reasoning for solution
stipulation - specific, essential condition or accepted point
syncretism - reconciliation of conflicting beliefs or forms
synthesis - combining of disparate elements into a whole
tangent - sudden change or digression in reasoning process
tenable - (adj) defensible; reasonable
theorem - proposition that can be drawn from premises or is part of general theory
theory - coherent series of plausible propositions that serve as explanation for something
thesis - position or proposition set forth for proof or argument
thought - act or process of thinking; cogitation; reasoning power
thought-out - (adj) derived by careful mental consideration
thrust - essential element or principal goal of argument
treatise - systematic exposition of essentials of argument and its conclusion
unilateral - (adj) one-sided, imbalanced
viable - (adj) having likely chance of working
watertight - (adj) flawless; having no possibility of evasion or misunderstanding
well-founded - (adj) based on sound or valid reasoning
well-grounded - (adj) having a sound basis or foundation
well-taken - (adj) justified, based in truth or fact
wit - mental soundness or ability, esp. facility for making unusual connections and brief, clever expressions