On a scale of one to 10, how do you rate your ability to reason, where a ranking of 10 means you are an expert at reasoning? According to Wikipedia, “Reason is a mental faculty found in humans that is able to generate conclusions from assumptions or premises. In other words, it is amongst other things the means by which rational beings propose (specific) reasons, or explanations of cause and effect.”
Great Greek thinkers such as Pythagoras, Sophocles, Plato, Socrates and Aristotle excelled at the power of reasoning. You do not have to be like these great thinkers, but there are a few specific things you can do to become better, if you are not so good at the art of reasoning.
YouTube Video on Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
If you cannot view the YouTube Video on Deductive and Inductive Reasoning, please click here.
7 Thoughts on the Idea of Reason
- According to David Hume in Treatise of Human Nature, “Reason is essential in understanding the consequences of our actions and in planning how to achieve our moral aims, but it is itself inert and unable to provide any impetus to action…” This suggests that the ability to reason is one of those skills that make your life easier, but you have to use it, as well as take action to effect change.
- You become good at a “thing,” when you immerse yourself in that “thing.” To hone your ability to reason, start by reading about Pythagoras, Sophocles, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, Descartes and David Hume.
- Learn to think critically. A good place to start is The Foundation for Critical Thinking. The American Association also offers courses on critical thinking.
- Practice debating: Choose a topic, and debate the topic with friends.
- See both sides: Take an issue and look at it from each side in great depth.
- Beef up your critiquing skills: Read a couple of very challenging text to give your mind an intellectual workout, then critique the information.
- Practice argumentation to hone your power of persuasion.
What do you have to add to the conversation? Let's keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Further Reading
Critique of Pure Reason, Immanuel Kant
Treatise of Human Nature, David Hume
Corpus Aristotelicum, Aristotle
50 Big Ideas Your Really Need to Know, Ben Dupre
Book links are affiliate links.
