What does Plato mean by reason?

Within the human mind or soul (psyche), reason was described by Plato as being the natural monarch which should rule over the other parts, such as spiritedness (thumos) and the passions. Aristotle, Plato’s student, defined human beings as rational animals, emphasizing reason as a characteristic of human nature.

How does Kant define reason?

Kant claims that reason is “the origin of certain concepts and principles” (A299/B355) independent from those of sensibility and understanding. Kant refers to these as “transcendental ideas” (A311/B368) or “ideas of [pure] reason” (A669/B697).

What is the Greek word meaning to reason?

logos
logos, (Greek: “word,” “reason,” or “plan”) plural logoi, in ancient Greek philosophy and early Christian theology, the divine reason implicit in the cosmos, ordering it and giving it form and meaning.

Why is reason important in philosophy?

Reason, Truth, and Emotion or Passion The question of whether reason is in fact driven by emotions is important in philosophy, because reason is seen by almost all philosophers as the means by which we come to know the truth, and truth as something objective which exists outside of human consciousness.

What is Practical Reason according to Aristotle?

Practical reason is the general human capacity for resolving, through reflection, the question of what one is to do. Deliberation of this kind is practical in at least two senses.

Why do we reason?

Reasoning is generally seen as a means to improve knowledge and make better decisions. However, much evidence shows that reasoning often leads to epistemic distortions and poor decisions. Our hypothesis is that the function of reasoning is argumentative. It is to devise and evaluate arguments intended to persuade.

What does practical reason mean?

Definition of practical reason 1 : reason concerned with the practical accomplishment of chosen ends —contrasted with theoretical reason. 2 Kantianism : the action or office of reason in matters of the will specifically : the determination of the grounds or universal laws of voluntary action by reason.

What is an example of theoretical reasoning?

For example, agents use practical reason to decide whether to build a telescope, but theoretical reason to decide which of two theories of light and optics is the best.

What is an example of reason?

Reason is the cause for something to happen or the power of your brain to think, understand and engage in logical thought. An example of reason is when you are late because your car ran out of gas. An example of reason is the ability to think logically. If you don’t give me a reason to go with you, I won’t.