Definitions for: Reasoning


[n] thinking that is coherent and logical



Webster (1913) Definition: Rea"son*ing, n.
1. The act or process of adducing a reason or reasons; manner
of presenting one's reasons.

2. That which is offered in argument; proofs or reasons when
arranged and developed; course of argument.

His reasoning was sufficiently profound. --Macaulay.

Syn: Argumentation; argument.

Usage: Reasoning, Argumentation. Few words are more
interchanged than these; and yet, technically, there
is a difference between them. Reasoning is the broader
term, including both deduction and induction.
Argumentation denotes simply the former, and descends
from the whole to some included part; while reasoning
embraces also the latter, and ascends from a part to a
whole. See Induction. Reasoning is occupied with
ideas and their relations; argumentation has to do
with the forms of logic. A thesis is set down: you
attack, I defend it; you insist, I prove; you
distinguish, I destroy your distinctions; my replies
balance or overturn your objections. Such is
argumentation. It supposes that there are two sides,
and that both agree to the same rules. Reasoning, on
the other hand, is often a natural process, by which
we form, from the general analogy of nature, or
special presumptions in the case, conclusions which
have greater or less degrees of force, and which may
be strengthened or weakened by subsequent experience.

Synonyms: abstract thought, logical thinking

See Also: analysis, analytic thinking, anticipation, argumentation, cerebration, conjecture, deduction, deductive reasoning, illation, inference, intellection, line, line of reasoning, logical argument, mentation, prediction, prevision, ratiocination, reasoning backward, regress, synthesis, synthetic thinking, thinking, thought

 Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals beginning with u
e letter animals
i letter animals